Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Looking to start stacking wins to get some momentum going as the season picks up steam, the Tippecanoe Valley volleyball team traveled to Goshen on Monday evening for a nonconference game against the Lady RedHawks. All three sets were competitive, but it was Valley that found the extra gear in each of them, pulling off the 3-0 victory on the road.
The Lady Vikings enjoyed a very hot start to the game, scoring the first four points of the night. Lillian Dunbar did a great job setting the tone, picking up an ace while also delivering a few more serves the Lady RedHawks had trouble returning.
Tippy Valley spent the next stretch of the game cultivating and growing the early lead it took. The Lady Viking hitters were in a zone to start things off, picking their spots with precision to come up with some massive kills. They were being well-helped by their setters, who were placing the ball in perfect areas to keep the offense churning.
The visitors flirted with a double-digit lead for quite some time, but were never able to get there. Eventually, Goshen was able to get their blockers going on the front line, and that totally changed the game. All of a sudden, the home team was surging, and Valley was calling for timeout leading by just three points.
The Lady RedHawks would get within two points, but that was as they’d get. The Lady Vikings were able to right the ship and get back on track in the latter stages of the set, separating from their opponent en route to going up 1-0 in the match with a 25-17 win.
The second set certainly did not follow the same formula as the first, as Goshen was the team that began the game with some fight. The home side took an early lead, their first of the game, at 5-4. However, it did not last long. The Lady Vikings seized momentum with a 6-1 run, forcing a timeout by the NLC representatives with the visitors leading 10-6.
The set remained tight for quite some time, as the Lady RedHawks were steadily improving over the course of the game, and were stringing just enough together to keep their opponent from pulling away. On the other side, Valley was doing just enough to remain in front as both teams got closer and closer to 25 points. Hadley Wise was making a massive impact on the game. It didn’t matter if she was playing in the front or back, she was wherever the ball was.
Tippecanoe Valley senior setter Lillian Dunbar works at the net during the second set...Nieter
It looked as if the Lady Vikings were going to cruise to a 2-0 lead in the match, but the home side had other plans. Like the set prior, Goshen was able to put together a very long rally, this time a little later in the set. Running out of time, the Lady RedHawks were able to tie things up at 23 all, really putting the pressure on the visitors. However, Valley was able to shake it off, score the last two points and take a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-23 victory.
The third set mirrored the second in the early going. Goshen took a slim lead early, but was eventually caught by their opponent, who went on to take a five-point lead of their own. Momentum favored the team that was just won victory away from taking the match, as Valley was up 9-4 with the Lady RedHawks calling for time.
Already up big, the Lady Vikings smelled blood in the water. The visitors continued to step on the gas, getting more and more aggressive as the set went on. Needing just six points to finish things off, Valley now held an eight-point lead. The team was now playing its best ball of the night at the perfect time to do so, and was closing in on its first five-set victory of the season.
They’d get it eventually. Goshen attempted to go on one last run to try and steal the set and force a fourth, but the home side simply ran out of juice. With one final kill from Amanda Rivera Roche, the team put the finishing touches on a 25-18 win that clinched the match.
Tippecanoe Valley (2-3) is at New Haven on Thursday.
