Overtime set win sparks Medina past Albion

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Devin Griffin spikes over the hands of Albion defender Alexa Grandy during the Mustangs win over the host Purple Eagles this evening.

An overtime win in the third set keyed Medina to a 25-20, 22-25, 27-25, 25-14 victory over host rival Albion this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match.

Lorelei Sanders served up the final two points of the decisive set to give Medina the 27-25 OT win and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Earlier in the set Evie Schultz served up eight points in a row to give Medina a 13-8 lead.

Albion though rebounded to grab a 21-15 advantage as Mya Knaak served up points 10-14 and Rylee Pearles 18-21, a runs which included two kills by Honesty Little and one by Emily Graham.

A three point run by Devin Griffin (20-22) pulled Medina back to within one at 23-22 and a spiking kill by Anya Bloom rallied the Mustangs into a 24-24 tie. The Mustangs then took three of the next four points to claim the key overtime win.

Keeping the momentum, Medina then closed out the match by taking the fourth set 25-14 as Ki’Mani Poole served up points 5-8, Bloom 15-18 with three aces and Schultz 24 and 25 both of which were aces. Schultz had a total of 24 service points on the evening.

Medina’s Ianah Drisdom dives for a return.

Medina also got off to a strong start taking the opening set 25-20 as Schultz served up points 8-14, including four aces, and points 22 and 23 both of which were aces. A kill by Bloom polished off the set winning 25th point.

Albion did close to within a point late in the match at 19-18 as Graham served up points 14-18 including three aces but the Purple Eagles could not pull even.

However, Albion did even the match by taking the second set as Alexa Grandy served up the final three points, including an ace, to snap a 22-22 deadlock.

Medina had grabbed a narrow 17-16 lead off a four point run of service points by Sanders (12-16)  and three kills for points by Griffin.

The Purple Eagles though answered with a three point run by Madison Hughson including an ace to regain a 20-17 lead.

Medina’s last lead came at 22-21 off a pair of service points by Sanders. The final four points and the match tying set though belonged to the Purple Eagles.

The next two sets and the match though belonged to the Mustangs as Bloom and Griffin both finished with 11 kills and Schultz and Drisdom both had 7.  Schultz also had 8 aces and Bloom 4.

The teams will meet again at Medina on Saturday at noon. The Mustangs will also host Wilson at 10 a.m.

Medina is now 2-2 and Albion 0-6.

Roy-Hart tops Newfane to even record

In another make-up match, Roy-Hart downed visiting Newfane 25-12, 25-12, 23-25, 25-15 as the Lady Rams evened their N-O record at 3-3.

Section V playoffs

In opening round Section V playoff action this evening  Bolivar-Richburg defeated Kendall 25-14, 25-22, 25-10; York outlasted Byron-Bergen 25-19, 15-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-20 and Notre Dame downed Arkport/Canaseraga 25-13, 25-21, 25-19.

Albion’s Mya Knaak spikes as Anya Bloom (3) and Lorelei Sanders (14) defend for Medina.