Mustangs spikers down rival Purple Eagles

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Elle Gross spikes over Albion’s Taylor Walczak during the Mustangs win over the host Purple Eagles this evening.

Rebounding from an overtime loss in the second set, Medina took the next two sets to down host Albion 25-21, 24-26, 25-10, 25-15 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match.

It marked the first time in a dozen years that Medina has defeated Albion in N-O competition. The Mustangs last league wins over the Purple Eagles were a home-and-home sweep during the 2005 season.

Leading by a narrow 11-8 margin, Medina pulled away in the pivotal third set as Maddie Williams served up points 12-15 and Alyssa Beyer 17-22 to put the Mustangs in command 22-9.

Grace Masse then registered back-to-back service aces to complete the 25-10 win and give Medina a 2-1 lead in the match.

Albion’s Caitlynn Snook taps the ball over the net.

Medina then closed out the win by taking the fourth set as Masse served up points 3-7, a run highlighted by 2 spiking kills by Je’ne Brown and an ace, and Beyer points 10-13, which included a kill by Williams, to put the Mustang on top to stay at 12-3.

Albion did rally back to within four at 13-9 as Emani Poole served up points 13-9.

Medina though pulled away for good on a kill by Brown for point 17 followed by a four point run of service points by Masse for a 21-13 Mustangs lead.

Beyer served up the final two points to close out the set 25-15 and the match.

Medina also got off to a quick start taking the openning set 25-21 as Masse had a pair of key late service points to put the Mustangs up 24-19.

Albion though bounced back to even the match with an overtime in in the second set as Johnson served up points 10-12 and 23-24 and Snook 14-16.

Brown finished with a total of 8 kills for Medina as Camri King and Williams both had 3.

Snook had 7 kills and 2 aces and Smith 9 kills for Albion.

Medina is now 2-2 and Albion 0-4 in N-I action.

Roy-Hart 25-25-22-25, Newfane 18-21-25-17
Aspen Moore had 10 kills, 7 blocks and 12 digs; Skyler Christopher 12 kills and 2 aces; Olivia Vorholtzer 14 points including 8 aces and 7 kills and Jessi Wood 6 kills and 6 points to lead Roy-Hart (2-2) past Newfane (1-3) in four sets.

Albion’s Natalie Lathrop returns service as Logan Conlon and Breanda Johnson watch.