Purple Eagles spikers upend Mustangs; Roy-Hart hands Akron its first loss

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Sierra Newton spikes as Medina’s Devin Griffin goes up for the block attempt. The action took place during the Purple Eagles win over the host Mustangs this evening.

Snapping a season opening four league match losing streak, Albion upended host Medina in straight sets 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match.

Tralling 18-17, Albion rallied into the lead in the opening set as Ashlyn LeBaron served up points 18-20.

Aces by Ellie Gross and Kharise Johnson put Medina back up 22-21 but the final four points and the win belonged to Albion.

The Purple Eagles pulled even on a side out and then Sierra Newton served up the final three set winning points.

Keeping the momentum, Albion jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the second set as Emani Poole served up points 7-12, a run which included a pair of aces.

Kills by LeBaron and Newton helped keep the Purple Eagles up 17-8.

Medina did close the gap to two at 17-15 as Gross served up points 10-15, a run which included 2 kills by Je’ne Brown, who had a dozen in the match.

Albion though answered the challenge as Newton scored points 19-20 and Isabella Gibbs points 22-25 to close out the set.

Back to back aces by Poole then gave Albion a 17-12 lead midway through the third set.

Medina did rally back to within one three times at 22-21 after a pair of service points by Brown, at 23-22 after a kill by Gross and at 24-23 after a tip by Gross.

The Purple Eagles though again answered the challenge as LeBaron registered a block for the set and match winning point..

Poole, LeBaron, Newton and Natalie Lathrop each had 5 kills for the Purple Eagles balanced attack. Poole also had 6 aces and Newton 4.

“That’s what we need to win is good balance,” said Albion Coach Melody Beecher. “We’re getting there. I’m very pleased overall with our effort.”

The loss drops Medina to 2-2 in the league.

Roy-Hart 25-25-18-24-25, Akron 23-23-25-26-21
Roy-Hart moved into a tie for the N-O lead with defending champion Akron at 4-1 as the Lady Rams outlasted the host Lady Tigers in five sets.

Aspen Moore spearheaded the Roy-Hart attack with 31 kills as Alyssa Kubas and Ella Brown both added 5. Paige Dent had 20 assists and Kristina Burdick 15 for the Lady Rams.

Medina’s Maddie Williams tips the ball over the reach of Albion’s Ashlyn LeBaron at the net.

Albion’s Emani Poole spikes over Medina’s Camri King.