Albion spikers out last Roy-Hart to grab N-O lead

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – BIG MATCH: Albion’s Chanyce Powell (10) makes a spike against Roy-hart defender Morgan Jones (15) during the host Purple Eagles five set win over the Lady Rams this evening in a key battle for the Niagara-Orleans League lead.

ALBION – In a down to the wire five set thriller, Albion out lasted Roy-Hart 25-15, 21-25, 19-25, 25-14, 25-22 this evening in a key battle of the unbeatens for the Niagara-Orleans League lead.

Trailing 22-20, Albion rallied to win the decisive fifth set as Kelsee Soule served up the final five pressure points in a row. Soule had a spiking kill to polish off point 23 and Chanyce Powell a block to win point 24. Soule then served up a clutch ace for the set and match winning point.

“It was a huge win for us,” Albion coach Ann Capacci said. “We’ve been behind a lot this season but once we get our composure and start believing in ourselves we can do it. We stepped it up and did what we had to do.”

Soule had 13 kills and 2 aces on the night as Sara Millspaugh had 14 kills and 4 aces, Meghan Hurley 8 kills and Powell 6 kills and 5 blocks to lead Albion’s balanced attack.

Albion got off to a fast start taking the opening set 25-15 as Jasmyn Smith served up points 3-6 and 21-23, Powell 8-12 and Soule 17-19.

However, Roy-Hart battled back to take the next two sets 25-21 and 25-19 to grab a 2-1 lead in the match.

Justine Wittkop served up the first seven points in a row to get Roy-Hart rolling in the second set. Albion did rally back to within one late at 22-21 but could not pull even as Brianna Lewandowski served up the final two points for the Lady Rams registering an ace for the set winner.

Keeping the momentum, Roy-Hart took the third set 25-19 Eliza Schwab served up points 6-9 and Bechy Harnish had a block to finish off the set winning point.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – NET ACTION: Roy-Hart’s Becky Harnish (16) unleashes a spike as Brooke Wilson defends for Albion.

Albion though answered right back taking the fourth set 25-14 to knot the match at 2-2.

Two aces by both Powell and Millspaugh helped Albion build up an 11-6 lead.
Hurley then put together a big run of nine straight service points (12-20) to boost the Purple Eagles advantage to a commanding 20-6. Brooke Wilson had two kills and a block for points to highlight that run.

Back-to-back kills by Soule and Millspaugh for points 22 and 23 then helped to put a lock on the set.

The decisive fifth set was a tight one which was tied no less than eight times.

Roy-Hart took its last lead at 22-19 after back-to-back kills by Wittkop.

However, the last rally and the match belonged to Albion.

After getting service back on a kill by Millspaugh, the Purple Eagles closed out the marathon match behind the clutch five point run of service points by Soule which she capped off with an ace.

Albion stays perfect at 5-0 while Roy-Hart slips to 5-1.

Newfane 25-25-25, Akron 4-10-14
Claire Puff had 5 kills, 12 digs and 10 aces, Stephanie Sherwood 7 kills and 3 blocks and Erica Wright 12 kills to lead Newfane (3-2) past Akron (0-5) 25-4, 25-10, 25-14.

Wilson 25-25-25, CSAT 8-11-7
Mecedes Rees had 4 kills and Alyssa Schlosser 14 straight service points to highlight Wilson’s (3-2) 25-8, 25-11, 25-7 victory over CSAT (0-5).