Local Sports

WCCS conquers tri over Parkersburg Catholic

Wildcats top Crusaderettes, Notre Dame

WILLIAMSTOWN -- After both sides easily dispatched an inexperienced Clarksburg Notre Dame squad, the Wood County Christian School volleyball team beat Parkersburg Catholic High School in two entertaining, hard fought sets, 25-23, 25-19. Sarah Barnes set the pace for the Wildcats, registering eleven points and six kills, while setter Olivia Eckels provided 38 assists.

On senior night in the WCCS gym, a Wildcat senior group who have contributed to three consecutive WVCAT championships produced an inspired performance in their last home game. Senior Barnes thought the evening an enjoyable and appropriate farewell.

"I was real proud," said Barnes.

"We played them last year, and it was a tough game. They're good competition; it's good to have good competition on my last night."

"Olivia Eckels is my setter; she's fantastic. We've been playing together for seven years, and we have a special bond."

"It was a very competitive game; the two teams are very similar," PCHS coach Kevin Witucky commented.

He continued, "they do a great job defending; keeping balls alive. At the end of the day, they just did a better job defending."

Both teams began the evening with convincing wins over the Irish from Clarksburg, WCCS winning 25-7, 25-6, and PCHS 25-8, 25-7.

"Most of our girls are 1st or second year players, so they're still learning," said Notre Dame coach Mark Flood.

The evening's final game was a different proposition, filled with exciting long rallies. The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-4 first set lead behind some impressive spiking from tall freshman Janna Spencer.

Barnes and front-court partner Maggie Frock then took over with some strong net play as their team increased the lead to a seemingly dominant 16-8 advantage.

The Crusaderettes then rallied behind their front-court duo of Abby Witucky and Mikayla Alkire. An Alkire block narrowed the margin to 16-11, and she followed with a spike to make it 17-14.

With the score at 17-16, PC freshman libero Gracie Lowers made a superb dig to allow Alkire the opportunity to block again and tie the score.

Lowers, and her opposing libero Hannah Riggs, both had superb nights defensively, keeping alive many rallies in often spectacular style.

Catholic's Olivia Ullman – also a strong performer all evening – had a block to take the lead at 18-17, and an ensuing ace by Witucky prompted Wildcat coach Mike Conaway to call time-out. His team scored to cut the margin back to one.

A magnificent rally on the next point saw Lowers make two dramatic saves for PCHS, and Riggs an equally stunning one for the Wildcats, before an Ullman spike made it 21-18 for the visitors.

Riggs brought her team within 22-21 with an accurate shot into the corner, then consecutive in-the-net calls against each team made it 23-22, Crusaderettes. Some miscommunication on the front line for PC then tied the score, before Barnes ended the first set with consecutive aces.

Catholic jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the second set before the Wildcats' Harmony Doyle produced three consecutive service winners to even the score at 9 apiece. Another very well played rally saw Frock make a great save for WCC before finishing the point with a kill for 10-10. Emily Browning made another great defensive play for the Wildcats, but Reagan Shriver spoiled it with a solid block to put the visitors up 13-12. Another thrilling rally on the next point saw the Wildcats' Goff even the score with a spike.

Barnes' solid serving then came back to the fore, as she rattled off three consecutive points. Witucky ended the run with a kill, but Spencer produced a good block to put the Wildcats up 19-15, and prompt a PCHS timeout. A crisp Ullman kill brought them back within 20-16, and Hayleigh Robinson of the visitors had a strong spike to come within 21-18, but after a pair of good Frock serves, the Crusaderettes faced match point. Doyle made an excellent dig to set up Goff for a clever dink to cement the win.