(PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
GOING FOR A KILL … Pettisville junior outside hitter Naomi Richer attempts a spike in Thursday’s non-conference win over Stryker. VIEW 103 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
PETTISVILLE (September 5, 2024) – Although they narrowed the margin with each set, the Stryker Panthers were unable to overcome the Blackbirds in a 3-0 rout in Pettisville Thursday evening.
The Blackbirds dominated the first set, limiting the Panthers to just two two-point runs and a smattering of one-offs while amassing two two-point runs, two three-point runs, a five-point run, and a massive eight-point run early on, punctuated by a powerful spike from senior Miley Harris which landed just inside the back line, to win 25-10.
Stryker gained an early lead in the second set, thanks to a series of errors by Pettisville as well as a back and forth up against the net in which they came out on top.
Blackbird kills from Harris and junior Courtney Wiemken (after several huge saves by her teammates), and a blocked shot at the net helped bring them back to a tie at seven.
Tight play continued, with the teams tying at eight, 10 and 11 before the Blackbirds were able to put together a five-point run to take a lead they wouldn’t lose for the remainder of the set.
A further seven-point run after just one point by the Panthers nearly sealed the deal, with a kill and an ace from senior Olivia Miller and a dominant kill from Harris bringing the final score to 25-14.
The Panthers kept improving as the third set began, trading points with the Blackbirds to tie at one, two, and three.
After the Blackbirds went up 6-4, Harris went on a three-point run of her own in a battle with Stryker’s junior libero Candace Steck, first sending Steck to the ground trying to stop one of her hammering spikes, then with two serves, both blocked to the ground by Steck, for a score of 9-4.
Stryker then went on their own five-point run including a kill by junior Allie Ruffer to tie Pettisville at nine before tying it again at 10.
A five-point run by Pettisville which included a kill by junior Naomi Richer would put them up 15-10, a lead the Panthers would be unable to overcome.
Despite keeping within at most five points, consistent play from the Blackbirds would eventually bring the final score for the set to 25-20.
Pettisville d. Stryker, 25-10, 25-14, 25-20
STRYKER (2-6) – Aubrey Clemens – 22/28 hitting, 8 kills, 12 digs; Reiss Creighton – 17 assists, 12 digs
PETTISVILLE (6-1): Olivia Miller – 12 kills; Grace Hastings – 20/20 serving, 32 assists, 8 digs; Miley – 12 digs, 11 kills; Naomi Richer – 20/20 serving, 12 kills; Becca Strauss – 23 digs
JUNIOR VARSITY: Pettisville, 25-12, 25-19
FRESHMAN: Stryker, 26-24, 18-25, 25-12
PANTHER SETTER … Reiss Creighton keeps the ball alive for Stryker during action at Pettisville High School.