Mustang spikers rally past Purple Eagles

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Meeting at the net, Medina’s Evie Schultz (7) and Albion’s Alexa Grandy (9) both try to get the ball to the other side during the Mustangs win over the visiting Purple Eagles this afternoon.

Rebounding from an opening set loss, Medina rallied to defeat visiting rival Albion 24-26, 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 this afternoon in a Niagara-Orleans League make-up volleyball match.

Albion took the opening set in overtime as the Purple Eagles rallied from a 22-20 deficit to win six of the final eight points. Mya Knaak had a spiking kill to pull Albion even at 22-22 and Emily Graham followed up with a service ace for a 23-22 lead. The set was then tied at 23-23 and 24-24 before Albion got point 25 on a side out and the game winner off a serve by Knaak.

Albion’s Rylee Pearles looks to send the ball over the net.

Medina though knotted the match by capturing the second set 25-15 as Sydney Watts served up points 6-8 with two aces, Anya Bloom 12-17 with two aces and Evie Schultz 24 and 25.

Keeping the momentum, Medina scored a narrow 25-23 win in the third set as Ianah Drisdom served up points 2-5 and Watts 18-21. A three point run of service points by Rylee Pearles (21-23 with two aces) did pull Albion within one at 24-23 but the Purple Eagles could not pull even.

Albion did hold a 14-13 lead midway through the fourth set. Alexa Grandy had two kills and Graham one while Knaak had two aces and Pearles and Grandy one to help the Purple Eagles take that narrow lead.

Breaking away from a 14-14 deadlock, Medina regained the lead for good on a run of three points by Bloom (15-17) which included the ace. The teams then traded single points the rest of the way as the Mustangs closed out the set 25-21 and the match.

Griffin finished with 5 kills and Bloom and Watts 2 each for Medina. Bloom and Watts also both had 3 aces and Drisdom 2.

Knaak had 4 kills and 4 aces, Pearles 5 aces and Grandy 2 kills for Albion.

Earlier in the day, Wilson defeated host Medina 25-17, 25-15, 21-25, 25-20 in another make-up match.

Wilson is now 5-3, Medina 3-4 and Albion 0-8.

Medina next hosts Roy-Hart in another make-up match on Monday.

Medina’s Devin Grffin registers a spike kills against Albion defender Alexa Grandy.