Document text
PREP VOLLEYBALL: South claims 5-set thriller By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Sep 06, 2022 10:26 PM A A South Medford senior Katie Clevenger came up with a clutch kill and junior Brooke Johnston added the finishing touch on a hard-fought, five-set victory over Roseburg to open play in Southwest Conference volleyball Tuesday on the Panthers’ home court. Clevenger finished with 19 kills, 19 digs, three aces and two blocks to help the gritty Panthers outlast the Indians, 25-16, 26-28, 25-20, 21-25, 16-14. “It was an exciting match,” said South Medford head coach Robin Akpan. “To see the stamina and endurance of our team to go through it all and finish 16-14 in the fifth set, it was really impressive. I’m proud of our team.” Setter Baylee Davis contributed 37 assists, 12 digs and two aces and fellow senior Naomi Johnson tacked on seven kills, two aces and one block in timely contributions for the Panthers (4-1, 1-0 SWC). Senior libero Cameron Christian added three aces and 17 digs in a match that featured numerous long rallies, while freshman Mayen Akpan had six kills and two blocks to tip Roseburg (5-2, 0-1). “For our first league game, I think it goes to show that we’re going to have a strong conference this year,” said the Panthers’ coach, “so every night we’ve got to show up.” South Medford came out firing on all cylinders in the first set, with a raucous home crowd enjoying the festivities. In the second set, Roseburg carried a narrow advantage but the Panthers were able to close the gap on kills by Akpan and Clevenger before a dink by Emma Fairbairn ultimately decided the set for the Indians. Despite the emotions of falling short in a nip-and-tuck second set, South was able to rebound in the third after two straight aces by Olivia Barber put the Panthers in control. In the decisive fifth set, no more than one point separated the teams from 11-all until the final stretch with Clevenger and Johnston coming up big. CRATER 3, MAZAMA 1: At Central Point, the Kate Stidham-to-Kendra Bittle connection was working to perfection as Crater closed out Mazama with a 25-16, 30-28, 23-25, 25-12 triumph at Scenic Middle School. The senior outside hitter Bittle racked up 21 kills, 10 digs and three aces while senior setter Stidham orchestrated the offense while amassing 46 assists, seven digs and an ace. Crater (3-2) received nine kills, five digs and a pair of aces from Maddie Kocina and Callie Aplin closed the contest in the fourth set with eight-straight service points and added two aces during the match-sealing streak. ST. MARY’S SWEEPS: At Phoenix, St. Mary’s senior setter Kaitlyn Hansen was 47-for-48 from the service line in a stellar showing and the Crusaders got double-digit kills from Kelsey Dunn and Emma Johnston in each game of a doubleheader sweep of Sutherlin and Phoenix in the Pirates’ gym. Dunn and Johnston each had 11 kills and two aces in a 25-14, 25-18, 16-25, 25-13 win over Sutherlin, with Hansen contributing 31 assists and Albie Borovansky adding a team-high 26 digs for St. Mary’s (4-1). In a 25-16, 23-25, 25-15, 25-11 victory over Phoenix, the 6-foot-2 Dunn had 15 kills, six blocks and four aces and Johnston had 12 kills and 20 digs. Maddie Ward also managed 10 kills and Sydney Alexander had 18 digs for the Crusaders against the Pirates, with Hansen doling out 43 assists. ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST 3, PROSPECT 0: Seniors Emma Bischoff and Isabelle Zamora had eight kills apiece and combined for 12 of Rogue Valley Adventist’s 26 aces in a 25-11, 25-11, 25-12 victory over Prospect in their Mountain Valley League debut. Bischoff accounted for eight aces and Zamora had four, as did sophomore setter Naomi Jackson, who also doled out 18 assists. The Red Tail Hawks (3-0, 1-0 MVL) received seven kills, two aces and a pair of digs from senior Michaela Porter and junior Baelien McNaught went for four kills and an ace. The defeat dropped the Cougars to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in MVL play. volleyball.jpg