(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NONCONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL … Archbold’s Miley Gericke looks to finish off a point during Thursday’s straight set win over the Blackbirds. VIEW 207 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
ARCHBOLD (September 12, 2024) – The Lady Bluestreaks managed to turn several at times narrow leads into a sweep in nonconference volleyball play against the Pettisville Blackbirds at home Thursday evening.
The two teams seemed evenly matched throughout the beginning of the first set, when they tied at one, two, and every point from five through nine.
Standout shots from Archbold senior Keely Culler and junior Miley Gericke and an unstopped tip over the net by junior Lexi Ripke as well as spikes and kills from Pettisville seniors Noelle Fox and Olivia Miller punctuated the neck-and-neck battle.
After one more point by the Blackbirds, the Bluestreaks went on a six-point run including three kills by Culler. Errors on both sides as well as spikes from Gericke and Ripke brought the score to 21-15 Archbold.
Each team traded three kills before a Pettisville error ended the first set at 25-18.
The Bluestreaks went on a tear to start the second set, going up 10-3 across three runs that included kills from Culler, junior Autumn Benecke, sophomore Kennedy Hurst, and Ripke.
The Blackbirds were unable to put together more than a trio of two-point runs – each including an error by Archbold – as the Bluestreaks increased their lead to 21-11 including a six-point run featuring two kills by Culler and one by Benecke.
Throughout the entire set, the Blackbirds made just six kills – among them shots by Miller and senior Miley Harris – as Archbold took the set 25-13.
Pettisville made a stronger showing both at the beginning of and throughout the third set, starting with a three-point run including a kill from Miller and a pair of unreturned serves to go up 3-0.
They picked up another Miller kill and serve error by the Bluestreaks while Culler continued her successful evening, responsible for five points of her own to tie the set at five.
A pair of errors tied the game at six before spikes by Fox for the Blackbirds and Gericke for the Bluestreaks tied it at seven.
Archbold then went on a five-point run including one scored after big saves when two successive hits launched the ball into the raised basketball backboards at the ceiling to go up 11-7, but the Blackbirds fought back with six points to Archbold’s two to tie it back up at 13.
Archbold then went on another four-point run and Pettisville responded with two before they each traded two singles and then a double each to bring the score to a narrow 21-19 Bluestreaks lead.
A kill by Archbold junior Charlee Forward and an error by Pettisville put the Bluestreaks in striking distance of the win, and despite a spike by Blackbird junior Naomi Richer, Archbold was able to put together their two final points with a tip over the net by Culler before blocking a shot from Pettisville to take the set 25-20 and the match 3-0.
Archbold d. Pettisville, 25-18, 25-13, 25-20
PETTISVILLE (8-2): Grace Hastings – 22 assists; Miley Harris – 31/36 hitting, 11 kills, 10 digs, 26/30 serve receiving; Naomi Richer – 29/33 hitting, 10 kills, 9 digs, 12/12 serve receiving
ARCHBOLD (7-2): Keely Culler – 33/35 hitting, 19 kills; 23/24 hitting, 12 kills, 16 digs; Grace Meyer – 15 digs, 14/17 serve receiving; Jazla Torres – 41 assists
JUNIOR VARSITY: Archbold, 25-15, 23-25, 25-19
FRESHMAN: Archbold, 25-10, 25-7