HOLMES TOWNSHIP (Crawford County Now) — Wynford started off slowly and Seneca East looked as though it may gain its elusive first win of the season.
After falling 25-22 in the opening set, the Lady Royals (2-4, 5-5) won 25-17, 25-13, 25-15 in Northern 10 Athletic Conference volleyball here Tuesday night.
“We had a new lineup tonight as Cali (Holbrook) came back from a concussion. We had a slow start coming out and finally put it together,” head coach Donielle Crall said. “We’ve just got to become more consistent.”
The Lady Tigers (0-6, 0-10) got control as senior Paige Miller’s ace and a kill by Karli Foos gave the visitors an 8-3 lead. Foos served 4 straight aces to push the Seneca East lead to 18-11 and Wynford got no closer than 21-19.
Head coach Lindsay Rellinger has seen improvement from her squad, despite their record.
“Coming out in that first set really strong, proving that they can put the pieces together. Every day at practice they are working hard,” she said. “We set goals at the beginning of the season that we needed to play together and we needed to grow.”
Set 2 featured a series of good volleys, but Wynford got command as Brooke Frombaugh and Cali Holbrook registered kills. Sophomore Sydney Holbrook added a block and a pair of kills.
“It’s absolutely a tough season and the N10 is extremely strong. There are no walk-out wins. We only added more challenge to it and I love it,” Rellinger said. “It’s been 3 sets a lot, but tonight we played better. These girls have zero give in their bodies.”
In set 3, Cali Holbrook and Paige Sheldon got kills early, Frombaugh added an ace and Sydney Holbrook’s point broke open a 10-8 game.
An aggressive net game benefited the Lady Royals.
“When we were tipping the ball, that’s when we were making mistakes. When we were swinging, we were putting it away almost every time,” Crall said.
Both Holbrooks, Adams and Frombaugh did just that in the final set.
Freshmen middle hitters Macy Reiter and Elyse Boes showed their power for Seneca East, getting a handful of kills each.
“We’ve dealt with injuries and sickness. We need a consistent line-up,” Crall said. “Our younger players are learning from the 3 seniors and are stepping up and making some good plays.”
Seneca East’s roster has 6 seniors, but a handful of youngsters are seeing floor time.
“I have multiple rotations with freshmen in there,” Rellinger said. “We are young and inexperienced on that varsity floor at that pace. They’re putting in the work.”
“Anniston Burroughs had 22 digs and she was not a libero last year. Paige Miller was not a setter last year and she had 16 assists and 10 digs. Lilly Burkholder is setting and hitting from the outside. Elyse Boes is coming on so strong; she’s getting hands on balls. Macy Reiter is getting all kinds of blocks.”
NOTES: The Lady Royals won the JV contest, 25-17, 21-25, 25-15…Wynford visits Crestline Saturday morning…Seneca East travels to Willard on Thursday…Frombaugh recorded her 1,000th dig against Bucyrus and Madisyn Watkins dished out her 1,000th assist last weekend.