By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
SWANTON (August 27, 2024) – The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Indians in volleyball action while thunder roared outside, and the lights occasionally flickered during their conference opener Tuesday evening.
Swanton dominated the second set 25-7, while Wauseon kept close in the first and third sets at 25-20 and 25-23, respectively.
Both teams remained within striking distance throughout the first set, with only two three-point runs – one by each team – and one four-point run by Swanton.
Wauseon initially seemed to have the momentum, going up 3-1 on a pair of Bulldog attack errors and a kill by sophomore Josie Russell.
The teams traded leads, tying at 6-6, 8-8, and 9-9, before Swanton retook the lead with a kill by junior Anja Caklovic gave them the 10-9 lead, a lead they would maintain to the end of the set.
Standout scores in the first set came via spikes from Swanton freshmen Lara Carrizales and Kinley Curtis and Wauseon’s junior Marin Leatherman, Russel, and senior Ava Kovar.
Although the Indians would score the first point of the second set via a block at the net by Russell, the Bulldogs went on several scoring sprees, including a five-point run, four-point run, and set-ending 10-point run, all three back-to-back, each separated by a single Wauseon point, both caused by Swanton errors.
Errors also made up the bulk of the scoring in the runs, with 12 of Swanton’s 19 points from the ball being hit out of bounds or into the net, with kills from freshman Cara Ludlow and Curtis.
The Bulldogs initially kept their momentum going in the beginning of the third set, going up 2-0, but the Indians tied it at 2-2 and briefly took a two-point lead. The set would stay tight to the end, however, tying at four, five, six, seven, eight, 14, 18, 21, 22, and 23.
Boys in the crowd for Swanton had already started getting loud in the second set, and during the final set Wauseon also started getting loud chants and cheers from their male contingent as they showed they weren’t giving up without a fight.
Scoring in the third set came courtesy of two spikes from Curtis, and individual spikes from juniors Lexi Faber and Ellie Saunders from Swanton, as well as an ace from junior Bella McGuire and spikes from Kovar and Leatherman.
A serving error from Wauseon gave Swanton the chance at victory at 24-23, and Ludlow sealed it with a kill.
Swanton d. Wauseon, 25-20, 25-7, 25-23
WAUSEON (3-3, 0-1 NWOAL): no statistics
SWANTON (4-1, 1-0 NWOAL): Lilyanna Valderas – 18/20 serving, 5 aces; Ellie Sunders 34/34 setting 12 assists; Cara Ludlow – 42/42 setting, 14 assists; Alexa Faber – 17 digs; Kinley Curtis – 25/29 attacking, 13 kills
JUNIOR VARSITY: Wauseon, 25-20, 25-20