By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
WAUSEON (September 9, 2025) – Wauseon scrapped, diving all over the floor to dig up Patrick Henry attacks. The Indians also got their share of blocks. And Wauseon found ways to score, going over and around the Patriots.
However, in the end, Patrick Henry had too many weapons and too much size, as they came from behind in two different sets to defeat the Indians, 25-23, 25-13, 18-25, and 26-24 to remain unbeaten in league play.
Both teams struggled to get it going offensively early, missing a number of attacks; however, Wauseon grabbed an 8-7 lead when Addison Fisher hit the wood from the right side, and the Indians climbed out to a large lead from that point.
Josie Russell recorded back-to-back kills, then Marin Leatherman nailed one from the left, along with a squared-up block around another Russell kill to boost the Indians to a 15-9 gap.
Three left side bombs by Kynli Crossland got the Patriots within 15-14, then another Crossland kill brought PH even at 18-all.
Matea Burkholder regained an Indian lead with a block, and Halle Gleckler’s kill sent Wauseon back up 21-18, but again Crossland had an answer with a right side shot and consecutive aces to tie the set.
Meyta Hieber put PH ahead from the left side, but a violation and Fisher’s second ball kill regained a 23-22 Wauseon advantage.
Hieber painted the sideline to tie the set at 23, and after the Indians’ next attack stayed in the net, Ada Christman’s block stole the first set for the Patriots.
PH got into control early in the second set, using Ella Christman’s two kills and another Crossland ace to grab an 8-6 lead.
Brooklyn Miller scored from the right side to force a 9-9 tie, but Patrick Henry rattled off seven straight to gain a big margin. Carys Crossland slapped down an overpass, then drilled a right-side kill.
Ada Christman’s block and Hieber’s left side drive put PH ahead 16-9, and the Indian deficit grew from there through the rest of the set.
As well as the Patriots hit offensively in the second set, that accuracy went nonexistent in the third set.
Patrick Henry was guilty of no less than a whopping 13 attacks and serving mistakes, and Wauseon took full advantage. Gleckler chalked up three kills as the Indians got back to a 2-1 deficit in sets.
Midway through the fourth, Bella McGuire nailed back-to-back aces to boost Wauseon up 14-10.
Hieber and Ada Christman each had a kill and then teamed up on a block to put Patrick Henry in the lead, 15-14.
Three points by Carys Crossland increased the Patriot lead to 20-16, but Leatherman nailed one from the left, then another, then a third, and after Russell’s ace, Wauseon had vaulted on top 21-20. Halle Fogarty drilled another ace to give the Indians a 23-21 lead.
Ella Christman and Kynli Crossland brought the Patriots even, but a bad serve gave the advantage back to Wauseon.
Hieber covered up that bad shot with a kill to make it 24-all, then an Indian attack went into the net, and Carys Crossland’s ace gave the match to Patrick Henry.
Patrick Henry d. Wauseon, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 26-24
Patrick Henry (9-1, 3-0 NWOAL): Kynli Crossland – 15 kills, 10 digs; Carys Crossland – 10 kills, 2 blocks; Meyta Hieber – 16 digs, 7 kills; Ada Christman 5 kills, 4 blocks, 7 digs; Kensey Weber – 25 assists; Whitney Feehan – 14 digs
Wauseon (3-6, 0-3 NWOAL): Marin Leatherman – 12 kills; Addison Fisher – 8 kills; Bella McGuire 23 digs; Anaya Gonzales – 17 digs; Braelyn Rupp – 18 digs, 17 assists