VB: Tri-Central comes up short versus Eastern

Reprinted courtesy of:
Tipton Tribune

By GENE F. CONARD
GREENTOWN –– It was one of their best efforts of the season, and they had
numerous opportunities to halt a skid that had seen them drop five of their last
six outings and ninth in 12 overall contests.
Despite that effort, Tri-Central’s Lady Trojan volleyball squad fell victim to a
power-hitting Eastern Lady Comet team here Thursday night, 25-16, 19-25, 25-19,
25-20.
The Comets, now 8-4, prevailed thanks to the strong net play of Jesi Evans (16
kills, 4 blocks); Haley Mavrick (15 kills, 12 digs); Emily Beachy (9 kills, 11
digs) and Katy Evenson (6 kills).
But Kylie Wise was the leader with 35 assists, 12 points and had several key
saves that led to Comet points. Beachy and Mavrick had eight apiece and Bekka
Carson and Amanda Nelson tallied six each.
The Trojans had strong games from Kelly Walter (14 kills, 5 points, 3 blocks, 2
digs); Hanna Ray (6 points, 5 kills, 12 digs, 17 receptions); Taylor Farris (5
points, 7 kills, 10 assists, 9 digs); Briana Humphries (7 points, 6 kills, 4
digs); Jessica Cage (5 points, 7 kills, 1 block, 6 digs) and Lacey Dyer (3
points, 11 digs, 17 receptions).
Cassy Malson added 11 digs, two receptions; Rachel Parsons had four digs and
three receptions; Cara Thomas had two assists, three digs and seven receptions
and Somer Muhs had one block and one ****.
TC Coach Kathie Layden remarked afterward: “I thought we played very well,
played smart and did some real good things. It was quite an improvement over the
way we played in earlier games. What we have to do now is get better and build
from this game on.”
Eastern Coach Meredith Cipriano offered: “The hustle of Kyli (Wise) was a key
factor for us. Her hustle got us over the hump when games got close. But
Tri-Central came out very aggressive and did a good job on our middle hitters.”
The first game was tied at 6-all when Mavrick made three kills and Carson served
three points for a 12-8 Eastern lead. CC Glickfield served the Comets to a 21-14
command and Kati Evenson made three kills to provide the 25-26 win.
TC came back from ties of 3-3, 4-4 and 8-all to build leads of 15-11 and 18-15
in the second game. It was 20-18 when Farris served four points and Walter had
three of her 14 kills. A Comet error helped TC to the 25-19 win.
There were ties of 4-4, 7-7, 11-11, 17-17 and 18-all when Ray’s serve gave TC a
19-18 edge in the third contest. But kills by Mavrick and Evans and five
straight points by Carson gave Eastern the 25-19 win and a 2-1 game edge.
The Trojans had an early 6-4 lead in the fourth game, but the Comets rallied to
take over at 12-7 on the play of Mavrick and Cook. Ray served three tallies to
trim it to 12-11, but Evans and Beachy gave the Comets an 18-15 lead.
A **** by Farris cut it to 20-16 and Walter served twice to make it 20-18. But
Mavrick’s slam and two serves by Wise upped it to 23-18 before a Comet error
gave TC one final chance at 23-19.
Cailai Thomas served to cut it to 23-20, aided by a **** by Cage, but an errant
TC **** and two final Eastern serves gave the Comets the 25-20 win and the
match.
The Eastern JV team defeated Tri-Central, 21-25, 25-13, 15-12.
The Trojans (3-10, 0-2) will entertain Hoosier Heartland Conference rival
Carroll on Saturday.
will take a 3-10 overall record and 0-2 Hoosier Heartland Conference mark into
Saturday’s home bout with Carroll (11 a.m.)