Medina spikers outlast Albion in N-O opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 September 2021 at 9:32 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Amaya Cleveland spikes the ball as Albion’s Samantha Rogers defends at the net. The action took place during the Mustangs win over the host Purple Eagles this evening.

Niagara-Orleans League volleyball action got underway this evening with a marathon five set match as Medina outlasted rival Albion 25-4, 14-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-21.

The decisive fifth set was tied 12 times before Medina’s Phallon Rivera scored five straight points to snap a 19-19 deadlock and put the Mustangs back on top to stay at 24-19. That run included two service aces and a spiking kill by Miriam Fike.

The Mustangs also got off to a fast start rolling to a 25-4 first set win as Hailey Wilkins served up points 1-3 (3 aces), Lorelei Sanders 5-8 (1 ace), Rivera 10-14 (2 aces) and Faith Oberther 16-23 (3 aces). Ki’Mani Poole then registered an ace for the set winning 25th point.

Albion though came battling back to take the next two sets and grab a 2-1 lead in the match.’

In the second set, Emily Graham served up points 3-7 (3 aces), Paris Smith 10-15 (1 ace) and Samantha Rogers 23-25.

Then in the third set Graham scored points 2-6 (3 aces), Smith (9-11), Maya Knaak 13-15 and 24-25 (3 aces). A kill by Graham polished off the set winning point.

However, Medina rebounded to take the fourth set knotting the match at 2-2.

Sanders served up points 2-4 and Dani Williams 6-9 to get the Mustangs out to a 9-3 lead. Later Wilkins, Sanders and Williams each had short runs of two service points each to help increase the lead to 24-12.

The Mustangs then kept the momentum to score a narrow 25-21 win in the decisive fifth set to claim the win.

Roy-Hart 25-25-25, Wilson 15-20-22

Roy-Hart bested host Wilson in three sets as Marissa Scott had 3 aces and 6 kills, Alexandrea Stern 8 kills and Ava Brigham 4 kills.