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Tyler shakes off first set, takes down Frontier

By Jordan Holland 4 min read

NEW MATAMORAS -- After dropping a hard fought opening set to Frontier Thursday at Hank Morus Gym, Tyler Consolidated regrouped and came out a different team in the second set.

The Silver Knights rallied for a 22-25, 25-14, 25-4, 25-13 victory to improve to 13-10 on the year.

"We kind of started out slow, but we started passing the ball," said Tyler head coach Chris Bachman. "Passing is our key. We pass and we serve, and we started getting our serves in. We’re a much better team if we can get our serves in. As long as we get everybody going and we get one down ball, then we’re ready to start."

Frontier, which dropped to 9-4 this season, started off strong. A pair of kills by Willow Smitley helped the Cougars build an early lead. Tyler came back to tie it at 4-4, 8-8, 10-10, 12-12 and 15-15, but each time FHS was able to re-establish the lead. Addison Edgar had back-to-back kills and then a block to make it 18-15 Cougars. Bethanie Thompson had a pair of kills down the stretch for Frontier, and it was Smitley's kill that ended it at 25-22.

Smitley led Frontier, which plays host to Wood County Christian on Monday, with 10 kills in the match while Edgar added nine and Thompson finished with six.

The Silver Knights got the response they needed in the second set. Jadyn Thomas, who finished with 33 assists, set up Kayli West on a kill to put TCHS in front 6-5, and the Knights maintained the lead from there.

Edgar's top got Frontier within 9-8, but Tyler closed the set on a 16-6 run to even up the match. Stevie Torman got the hot hand from the service line, notching four straight aces to help put the finishing touches on the second set.

"The whole team finally started coming on, and we got some blocks up front," Bachman said. "We played some smart ball. We started tipping the ball a little bit, finding some holes, and just kept working. We served the ball real well once we got through that first set."

Tyler came out for the third set with a noticeable energy boost. West, who produced a match-high 21 kills, put down three spikes, a block and two aces to help the Knights build a quick 10-2 advantage and force a Frontier timeout.

They kept rolling from there, as Sloane Wall had a block and two kills to make it 17-3 before three straight aces by Madison Stollings made it 22-3.

Tyler carried that momentum into the fourth set. West and Wall, who tallied 18 kills and a match-high five blocks, did more damage at the net while Torman continued serving aces to close out the victory.

For the Knights, that's the winning recipe.

"Stevie, if she keeps us on the run and we keep Kayli in the front row, we’re rolling," Bachman said. "That’s a good combination. That’s our strategy."

Tyler entertains Doddridge County on Tuesday, and Bachman likes his team's progression as the postseason creeps closer.

"We’re coming on," he said. "Keep telling these girls we got to play till the end of October. We don’t have to really start and get gelled until the end of October. That's when you make it really count. I’m hoping we’ll be a force to be reckoned with in a very tough region."

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@newsandsentinel.com.

At Hank Morus Gym

Tyler Consolidated d. Frontier 22-25, 25-14, 25-4, 25-13

Tyler (13-10) stats: Kayli West 21K, 4 aces; Jayden Ferrell 1K, 2 aces; Sloane Wall 18K, 1 ace; Jadyn Thomas 1K, 3 aces; Stevie Torman 9 aces; Madison Stollings 4K, 4 aces

Frontier (9-4) stats: Willow Smitley 10K; Addison Edgar 9K; Bethanie Thompson 6K; Gracelyn Boone 1 ace; Kenzie Livingston 1 ace

Next matches: Doddridge at Tyler Tuesday; Wood County Christian at Frontier Monday

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