NORTH ROBINSON — County rivals Wynford and Colonel Crawford have waged numerous epic battles in virtually every sport. You can add Tuesday night’s Northern 10 Athletic Conference volleyball match to that list.
The Lady Eagles won the first two sets 25-18, 26-24, before the Lady Royals captured the next two sets 25-16, 25-12 to force a deciding fifth game inside Mac Morrison Gymnasium.
Wynford (7-4, 4-3) held off a furious Crawford rally for a 15-12 win and a thrilling 3 sets to 2 victory.
“I’m proud of both teams. I think Crawford played very well and gave us really good competition,” Wynford head coach Tiniel Nickler said. “For my girls, you gotta have everybody show up on that court and you need all six players to show up. Tonight, we had an off night and didn’t play the way we have in the past.”
Colonel Crawford (1-12, 0-7) jumped out to a 7-3 lead in set 1 and never looked back.
Niyah Shipman, third in the N10 in kills, started off what would be a legendary performance with several points and a block in that set.
“We really have come a long way from the beginning of the season. For them to be able to play at that energy level and intensity level those first two sets was definitely something that I’m super proud about,” Lady Eagles head coach Jaime Valentine.
“Everything’s a learning curve for us. Now it’s learning how we finish. I told them in the locker room we’re getting closer to where we are finishing a game.”
Close described the second set, with the hosts taking a two-point win.
The Lady Royals, courtesy of Maddy Lutz, Natalie Johnson and freshman Brooke Frombaugh, went ahead 9-4. But Camryn Powers and Shipman answered as Crawford clawed its way back.
Shipman’s kill tied it at 24 before winning the set. The Lady Eagles were down 20-15 before outscoring Wynford 11-4.
The third set belonged to Wynford and Nickler attributed it to a tradition of winning.
“We can’t give up. You can never give up as an athlete and Wynford athletes should never give up and that’s what I coach into these girls.”
Nickler admitted she made a few adjustments after the first two sets.
“We did have to switch our front row up and gave the girls some different opportunities, different swings and different positions. We had to block differently on Number 4 (Shipman). She was really throwing the ball down and she had a great game as well.”
Zoe Whitmeyer and Frombaugh had key points for Wynford in the third set.
Shipman, who injured her leg in the fourth set, sat out a few minutes before returning.
“Niyah is a gamer and she’s a tough kid. This is a new role for her this year. She doesn’t typically play defense so that’s a learning curve for her,” Valentine said. “She takes it all in stride and she is a game-changer at certain moments.”
Shipman recorded 27 kills. Powers added seven. Shipman also had three blocks and Ella Agee two.
Valentine said moving the ball around and switching up who takes shots is a process.
“I’m super proud of Ella and how she’s working on different ball placement and that’s helped expand our offense a little bit. Those kinds of things I wasn’t sure we were going to get to, but we are here before we start the second round.
“So, I’m hopeful for them and we’re trying to get better every single time that we step out onto the court,” she said.
Senior Kenna Caldwell’s kill broke a 7-7 tie in the fifth set and offset four kills by Shipman later in the game as Wynford held on for a 15-12 deciding set triumph.
“I’m glad I have flexible athletes who are good at any position you put them in,” Nickler said. “We have Seneca East on Thursday, so we start round two. We’re halfway through the season, and I’m just encouraging them to continue to want it and to have that fierce Wynford attitude.”
Frombaugh had 14 kills, Caldwell 12, Maddie Lutz 8 and Whitmeyer 7. Natalie Johnson had 12 serving points and Gretchen Shade 11.
A gutsy come-from-behind win tested the Wynford squad, Nickler said.
“To go five sets, keep our heads up and finish with a win here is huge. You have to make sure you finish with everything on the court. I’m OK with losing if we walk away with our heads held high.”
“The energy was high in this gym tonight. The girls really showed up and gave their fans and everyone a great game to watch. Both teams,” Nickler said.
For Valentine, with just two seniors and a junior on her squad, the growth process continues.
“Honestly, where we were at the beginning of the season defensively to where we are now, I couldn’t be more proud of them. Sydney Rayborn has stepped up. We did a little line-up change here at mid-season.
She’s come in and played outside and defense and she’s doing a phenomenal job. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a freshman.
“Tori (Spitler) has done a lot better in being more consistent on the outside and that’s something we have been struggling with as a team. A lot of unforced errors, so we’re trying to fix those things as we go along,” Valentine said.
Spitler had 27 digs. As a team the Lady Eagles served at 97% clip, with Agee hitting all 16 and Rayborn 24-of-26.
Colonel Crawford travels to Mohawk Thursday.
Wynford won the JV match 25-14, 26-24.