Marietta netters sweep Warren
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MARIETTA -- For the first time all season the Marietta High volleyball program finally had its first home match on the brand new Sutton Gymnasium floor.
Despite trailing in every set here Thursday evening, the Tigers of head coach Ron Kidder battled back and improved to 14-1 following a 25-22, 25-20 and 25-23 sweep of Warren, which fell to MHS 2-1 earlier this year in Vincent. The Tigers were led in kills by Anna Ritter (nine), Izzy Becker (eight), Kate Evans (seven), Arianna Buckley (six) and Kayla Addison (three). Setters Taylor Karcher (15) and Kira Farley (11) each produced double figure assist totals while Evans (16), Reagan Karcher (14) and Ritter (14) paced the Tigers in digs.
"Practicing in other gyms has definitely helped us, but playing tonight on our home court was awesome," admitted Becker, whose downed spike set up match point and was followed by a Buckley kill as the Tigers now prepare for a home match Monday versus Athens.
"It was so awesome to win our first home game in our new gym. Right now I think we are really young, but we still have a lot to work on. We just have to keep improving and work on things. As long as we keep learning that's all that matters."
Warren, which was led by Sydney Starcher's match-high 10 kills along with Kali Wells and Maddie Stealey serving for a trio of aces apiece, dropped to 13-5 for first-year head coach Ann Skufca.
"The one thing I can say is that our girls continue to fight," admitted Skufca, whose squad returns to action Monday at Belpre. "We didn't give up.
"We just got to continue to work on the little things that are out there and improve for our remaining three games of the regular season."
Stealey had two of her aces and Wells a pair of her five kills in a run during the first set that allowed the Warriors to go up 15-10. Warren still had the opening set even at 21 following an Alexa Lewis ace, but Addison went down the line for a downed spike on the outside to give the hosts the lead for good. A Warrior attack error ended the set.
Payge Cornell, who had 15 assists, helped the Warriors to a 3-0 cushion in set two following an ace, but the Tigers took their first lead at 5-4 after another WHS attack error. Warren eventually tied the set at 19-all following a pair of aces by Wells and a Starcher stuff on Addison, but Ritter's kill gave the Tigers the lead for good at 20-19. Ritter also put one down to give Farley set point.
The Warriors had the Tigers doubled up early in set three at 4-2 following an Abby Stutler kill and the lead increased to as many as seven at 13-6. Down 17-13, coach Kidder's team rallied and despite trailing 23-22, secured the final three points for the sweep.
"You got to understand Warren is a good team," Kidder said. "I got to give them credit because they are good, but I also look at our team a little bit and go we're young and we're 14-1. They are pretty good.
"To beat them in three, I would say it was a tough game. For our young kids to be able to handle that pressure is a good sign. Very proud of them. First time in this gym and they played hard tonight."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com