Albion tops Medina in N-O volleyball opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 8 September 2022 at 9:53 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Hannah Moyer registers a spike over the hands of Medina’s Destiny Richardson during the Purple Eagles win over the visiting Mustangs this evening.

Rebounding from an opening set loss, Albion came battling back with huge late rallies in each of the next three sets, two of which came in overtime, to down visiting rival Medina 24-26, 25-20, 26-24, 26-24 to open the Niagara-Orleans League volleyball season.

Medina took the opening set in overtime rallying from an 18-10 deficit as Ki’Mani Poole served up points 11-18, including two aces, and Lexoni Russo points 23 and 24 both of which were aces.

However, Albion bounced right back to even the match by taking the second set rebounding from a 20-16 deficit as Maya Knaak served up the last 9 points in a row, including three aces.

Addison Paul had scored points 1-4 and Kylie Poynter 11-15 to help Medina build up an early 15-6 lead.

The Mustangs also grabbed a 10-2 lead to open the third set as Lorelei Sanders scored points 2-4 and Russo 7-10.

Albion though again answered the challenge rallying into a 12-11 lead as Madison Lebaron sevred up points 6-12, including 4 aces.

Medina did regain a 24-19 lead but the Purple Eagles retook the momentum to claim the 26-24 overtime win as Liana Flugal scored points 21-26 registering an ace for the set winner.

The decisive final set saw Albion jump out to an 18-8 lead as Flugal scored points 10-13 and Lebaron 14-18.

This time it was Medina battling back as the Mustangs rallied to within a point of claiming the set at 24-20 with Sanders scoring points 13-19 and Poole 21-24.

However, the last rally and the victory belonged to Albion as the Purple Eagles got a clutch run of five straight service points by Sam Rogers (22-26) to lock up the set and the match. A spiking kill by Hannah Moyer polished off the set and match winning point.

Newfane 25-25-22-26, Wilson 22-21-25-24
Newfane bested rival Wilson as Charley Buscaglia had 8 aces, 17 assists and 9 kills, Emma Hoffer 21 digs, Reese Rutherford 7 kills and Lauren Bax and Mykayla Schultz 5 kills each.

Lilah Frerichs had 7 kills and 4 blocks and Cat Cliffe 5 kills for Wilson.

Akron 25-23-25-11-15, Roy-Hart 14-25-20-25-5

In a sea-saw battle, Akron outlasted defending champion Roy-Hart in 5 sets 25-14, 23-25, 25-20, 11-25, 15-5 as the trio of Elisa Logan, Sloan Jonathan and Ashley Henning led the way for the Lady Tigers.

Alex Stern was strong at the service line and Sam Albright at the net for Roy-Hart.

Medina’s Elizabeth Parker tips the ball over the net as Albion’s Julia Knight tries to block.