Roy-Hart spikers outlast Medina in 5 sets

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s duo of Maddie Ciemny (20) and Samantha Albright (4) go up to block a return attempt by Medina’s Devin Griffin during the Lady Rams win over the host Mustangs this evening.

In a marathon five setter, Roy-Hart bested host Medina 25-22, 20-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-21 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League volleyball match.

There were seven ties and four lead changes in the decisive fifth set which Roy-Hart claimed by taking 6 of the final 7 points.

Breaking away from a 19-19 deadlock, the Lady Rams claimed the set and the match victory as Alexis Connolly served up an ace for point 21, Marissa Scott scored points 23 and 24 and Maddie Ciemny had a kill for the clinching 25th point.

Medina had tied the set for the last time at 19-19 after back-to-back spiking kills by Elle Gross who had 18 kills on the evening.

Medina’s last lead came at 16-14 on a service ace by Evie Schultz. The Mustangs pulled even at 17-17 on a kill by Devin Griffin who had a total of 13 kills on the evening.

Roy-Hart also got off to a dramatic start in the match by rallying from a 14-5 deficit to win the opening set 25-22. Ciemny served up points 13-18 including 3 service aces and 2 kills by Samantha Albright. Scott later served up an ace for point 24 and Ciemny registered a kill for point 25.

Medina evened the match by taking the second set 25-20.

The Mustangs again jumped out to a big 18-7 lead but this time held on for the win after Roy-Hart rallied back to within 4 at 20-16 and again at 24-20.  Emma Carson served up points 11-15 and Schultz 22-24 for the Mustangs.

Keeping the momentum, Medina then took a 2-1 lead in the match by winning the third set in overtime 26-24.

Breaking away from a 24-24 tie the Mustangs regained the lead for good as Gross polished off point 25 with a kill.  Carson then scored up the set winner.

However, Roy-Hart rebounded to reknot the match at 2-2 by taking the fourth set 25-19 as Connolly had a big run of 8 straight service points (11-18) and Ava Brigham served up the final five (21-25) registering aces for points 23, 24 and 25.

That set the stage for the decisive fifth set which saw the last momentum surge belong to the Lady Rams which closed out the set and the match with a clutch 6-1 edge in points.

(Click here to see Roy-Hart clinch the fifth set and win the match.)

Roy-Hart is now 2-1 and Medina 0-3 in N-O action.

Albion, Akron also win in five
Five set matches proved to be the rule in N-O matches this evening as Albion (1-2) outlasted host Newfane (1-2) 17-25, 25-18, 25-9, 24-26 and 25-14 and Akron (3-0) rallied past Wilson (2-1) 20-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-16.

No details or statistics were reported from either match.

Medina’s Elle Gross spikes over Roy-Hartt’s Maddie Ciemny