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IAC VOLLEYBALL: S-VE BATTLES IN 4-SET LOSS TO WAVERLY (21 PHOTOS) (2018-10-11)

Tioga County Sports Report
SPENCER - Spencer-Van Etten was scrappy and persistent, but in the end, a more experienced Waverly team was able to turn back the host Panthers and post a 3-1 victory here Thursday evening.

Waverly controlled the tempo in the opening game, cruising to a 25-9 win and led a good chunk of the second set as well. However, the Wolverines were unable to pull away and the Panthers climbed back in it and persevered with a 25-22 victory.

"We let serve receive get to us big time," Waverly head coach Kesha Sinsabaugh said. "And then, down in hits, just either way out of bounds or totally in the net, so it doesn't help. I can't pinpoint it. I want to say it's them not thinking, but they were still playing to the point that they could, but a very off game. Not what I expected. A four-hit violation by the Wolverines and a block by S-VE's Tara Perkins also provided key points for the Panthers down the stretch.

"The second game, I'm really happy with how they played as a team and communicated well together," said S-VE head coach Sarah Heveland.

The third and fourth sets were impressive wins by the Wolverines, 25-11 and 25-12, but didn't appear as though they would be one-sided at the onset. In fact, S-VE jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game three, but Waverly came back and got a little help from a pair of Sydney Meyers aces to take the lead.

S-VE was within five points as the last two sets closed in on the midway points - 14-9 in game three and 14-10 in game four - but the Wolverines would pull away after that.

"They definitely got it together after a few hiccups in the first couple of points of the third and fourth game," Sinsabaugh said. "It was really tight, but once they got back in a rhythm, that's the big thing, a rhythm, and going forward from there. They were able to continue out with the rhythm and get all three passes, sets and hits to work together, so that was good."

"Waverly's a good team," Heveland said. "From the first time we played Waverly, this is a huge step up, second third and fourth game. We have really improved since the first time we saw Waverly.

"I'm happy with how they played. I think they played up, they played aggressive, they stayed with them, so I'm happy with how they played, and the intensity and energy they brought."

Sinsabaugh knew her team wasn't going to waltz out of the Spencer gym with an easy victory.

"We've seen them a couple times, outside of regular season too, and they pass up everything," she said. "Any hard hit they get up, and they're on the floor and get after everything. I give them credit. It's going to be a good game either way, it's just whether or no we show up. I expect us to show up every game, because we know that they're continuing to improve and they're going to come back like they have been."

Sydney Meyers posted a triple-double for the Wolverines with 14 points, 10 kills and 10 digs; Siera Kirk had 12 digs; Chloe Croft contributed a double-double with 10 digs and 24 assists; Paige Lewis had 15 points and six aces; Morgan Adams had three blocks; Jordan Mente had six kills and Adrianah Clinton chipped in with 12 points, four aces, seven kills.

Lindsey Greene had five kills, 14 digs and ace and an assist; and Perkins contributed five kills, six digs, two blocks and two aces for S-VE. Sam Deppe added five assists, four digs and two aces; and Niah Lavore pitched in with 13 digs.

Waverly (9-4) and S-VE (4-9) will compete in the Dryden Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament Saturday.

JV: Waverly (8-5) won, 2-0. The scores were 25-8 and 25-19.

Caitlin Bakley had 10 points, seven aces and three assists; Aubrey Ennis contributed 10 points, three kills and three digs; and Kennedy Herriman  added 11 points, four kills, five digs.

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IN PHOTO 1: S-VE's Tara Perkins (left) and Waverly's Chloe Croft. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.


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