Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Looking to remain undefeated in Three Rivers Conference play, the Manchester volleyball team welcomed fellow area team Whitko to their court on Thursday night. After two sets, it looked like it would be an easy victory, but the Lady ‘Cats had different plans. After falling behind 2-0, the visitors won the next three to pull off a miraculous comeback and win it 3-2.
Both teams were able to put together highlight-worthy sequences throughout the first few points of the game, with the Lady ‘Cats jumping in front early. Each point was hard fought, leading to long, back-and-forth battles between the two conference foes.
The opening game saw several ties as the teams climbed the scoreboard, but Whitko was able to remain in front for a majority of the set. Manchester libero Myla Crozier was extremely busy during this stretch, as she was left with the responsibility of digging some really tough kills by the visiting hitters.
Momentum was scarce here, as neither side was able to string together a run of more than two points. The game flow was quite repetitive: the Lady Squires would score a point down by one to tie things up, only for the Lady ‘Cats to immediately answer and jump back in front. When the score reached 15-15, it was already the seventh tie of the set.
Extremely late in the set, it was Manchester that was finally able to put a run together and go up by the slim margin of 21-20. After Whitko battled back to tie things yet again, a timely ace by Marysa Stroud put her team back up by two and directly led to a timeout by the visitors.
The final few points were hard-fought like the rest of the set, but the Lady Squires were able to escape with a 25-22 victory to go up 1-0.
Things remained close as the second set got going, with the home side maintaining their lead early on. Eventually, Manchester was able to get its advantage up to four points at 8-4, the largest lead in the contest so far. This was quickly met with a Whitko timeout.
After the break, the lead continued to balloon. To give the Lady ‘Cats credit, even though the visitors were not getting it done on the scoreboard, they made the home team work for every point they got. The front line played especially well, turning away a number of kills at the net.
The second and final visitor timeout was called with Manchester up 17-10. The Lady Squires had taken full control of the game and it did not look like they were about to relinquish it. One final push by the Lady ‘Cats would not be enough, as it wasn’t long until a 25-17 win gave the home side a commanding 2-0 lead in the game.
With their backs now in a corner, the visitors got off to a good start in the third set and took an early lead. It didn’t last long though, as Manchester took its first lead of the set at 7-6. This led to another stretch of incredibly even play that was eerily similar to the first set of the night.
Senior teammates Hadley West (L) and Myla Crozier dive for the ball during Thurday night's home match against Whitko...Nieter
That was until another Lady Squire avalanche allowed the home team to build up a sizable advantage once more. A pair of aces by Crozier extended the lead to five, and the team was off and running.
Again needing to regain momentum to keep the game alive, the Lady ‘Cats were able to tie things up late in the set, and even took a lead at 23-22. For the first time in the game, it was Manchester calling timeout to talk things over.
With Alexa Culp serving, the Lady ‘Cats finished the third set incredibly strong, winning it 25-22 to force a fourth set.
Not looking to prolong things any further, the Lady Squires began the fourth set by taking an early four-point lead. But momentum was really starting to favor the visitors, and in a matter of moments, they had spun things around and taken the lead themselves.
Soon, the Whitko lead was now five, their largest of the game. After starting the game so strongly, the Lady Squires now suddenly looked lost. But after having to call timeout and talk things over, Manchester emerged looking like it did earlier in the game. The team used an extended run to get right back into things up at 15 all before retaking the lead a point later.
The game was getting really weird at this point, and after yet another momentum change, it went right back the other way as Whitko went up by four at 22-18. They would not surrender that lead, forcing a fifth and final set with a 25-22 win.
After winning the two previous sets, the Lady ‘Cats wasted no time jumping in front in the winner-take-all game. The visitors forced a Manchester timeout after going up 7-4. Things stayed close after the break, but Whitko was able to remain in front as the game neared its conclusion.
The Lady Squires’ first lead came at 11-10, and from that point on, it looked like they would finish the job, even getting to match point. But Whitko had one final run in them, scoring the last five points of the match to complete the comeback with a 16-14 win.
Manchester (15-3, 2-1 TRC) faces off against Rochester on Tuesday, while Whitko (5-6, 3-1 TRC) takes on Kouts Saturday.
