Knolles Law-RealEstate Tioga State Bank GUTHRIE SPORTS MED Tioga County Sports ReportDANDY MINI MARTS BX Williams Auto GroupLounsbury Agency


IAC VOLLEYBALL: NEWARK VALLEY, S-VE BATTLE THROUGH FOUR-SET DUEL (24 PHOTOS) (2019-10-17)

Tioga County Sports Report
SPENCER — Newark Valley escaped with a 3-1 IAC South crossover victory against S-VE here Wednesday, but earned every point against a Panther team looking to pull off a big upset. 

S-VE won the first set, 29-27, but the Cardinals were able to rally to win the next three, 25-20, 26-24 and 25-21.

With the post-season approaching, NV head coach Kelsey O'Donnell welcomed the challenge her team received from the Panthers.

"I'm glad it wasn't an easy sweep or anything like that," she said. "When we first played them I think three of their starters were out or something like that.

"They came to play and they really showed up and we were not ready. We were not mentally into it the first game and we were just like this roller coaster of a ride through all of out sets."

"I think this is the best that we've played all season," said S-VE head coach Sarah Heveland. "Looking at the stats, we had very few errors. Newark Valley's just a great team and we expected a good game, so I'm glad we went four sets with a team like that."

NV scored seven of the final nine points in the second set and used a 9-2 run to create 23-16 gap late in the fourth set. However, S-VE scored four straight points to make it 23-20.

In the third set, the home crowd cheered an impressive rally by their Panthers as S-VE climbed out of a 16-17 hole to grab a 20-19 edge before NV got hot at the end and pull out a 26-24 win.

"We have a lot to work on in practice," O'Donnell said. "We need to work on certain parts that are weak. That back line, we're not getting a lot of those passes up that we need to and we've got some things to work on.

"We needed that shake-up because we're going into some harder games later on in our season when we actually have, hopefully IAC championships and sectionals, and we need a scare like that to set us straight, because we're not just going to sweep people."

For S-VE, which has battled the injury bug this season (and had another player go down against NV), the players are hanging tough and continuing to improve in the midst of a 5-10 campaign.

"I think that we are getting better skill-wise, but we played better as a team tonight and we kept our energy up the whole time, and I think that's what kept us with Newark Valley, our energy and our teamwork," Heveland said.

The Panthers wrap up the regular season Friday at Tioga.

With the victory, Newark Valley remains tied with Waverly atop the South Large School standings at 10-4. The Wolverines defeated Tioga, 3-2. Edison, which swept Odessa-Montour, remains close behind at 9-5.

NV faces two opponents with losing records while Waverly and Edison must face each other one more time. The Spartans also have a match remaining with winless Watkins Glen while Waverly has unbeaten Candor remaining on the schedule.

Emma Graves dished out 14 kills, and had six digs, three blocks, an ace and an assist for NV; Allie Wandell contributed 13 assists, eight kills, seven digs, five aces and a block; and Jordan Stiffarm had 15 digs, five aces and a kill.

Kayla Malarkey chipped in with four digs, three assists, one kill and one ace; Gracie Gardner had four kills and three blocks; Libby Northrop recorded seven digs, three aces and an assist; Kimi Mertson had four aces; Leah Hartenstein posted four digs; Chelsie Fuller had two digs; and Isabel Rosalez added an assist.

Sam Deppe recorded a double-double for S-VE with 18 assists, 13 digs, seven aces and two kills. Niah Lavore contributed 19 digs, five kills and an ace; and Lydia Diboun registered 22 digs, five aces and two kills.

Emily Jones had 11 kills, four aces and four digs; Ashleigh Morais contributed eight kills, six digs, a block and an ace; Makayla Dacey had eight digs and a kill; Sophia Dutra scored five digs, three asists, two aces and a kill; Gillian Jackman had four digs and Lizzie Graham added one dig.
——————

IN PHOTO 1: NV's Jordan Stiffarm. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.


You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE