For The Tribune
CROTHERSVILLE
Momentum kept changing back-and-forth between the Crothersville and Medora volleyball teams during the first four sets of Thursday’s match on the Tigers’ floor.
The Tigers finally took control in the fifth set for a 9-25, 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 15-7 victory that evened their record at 2-2.
The Tigers jumped on top 4-0 in the fifth set to lead all the way. Katrina Christian had an attack kill for match point.
“In the fifth set we finally started to play some ball,” Tigers coach Linda Luedeman said. “It was a good match for the crowd to watch between two county teams.
“In the first set I’m not sure what we were doing. We decided to play some ball in the second and third sets. As long as we can stay focused at each task they can play some good ball.”
The Hornets came out sharp from the start and used an ace by Alli Carney to take an 8-1 lead.
The Tigers closed to within 9-6 before the Hornets used strong serving by Kailen Flynn to build a 17-6 lead.
Avery Carney served an ace for set point.
“They came out happy the first set and played well,” Hornets coach Sara Todd said. “We have a young team, and sometimes they have trouble keeping up their intensity. They tend to get down on themselves. They make a mistake, and they feel like they let the whole team down.”
The Hornets held an 18-14 lead in the second set before the Tigers rallied to take a 21-18 lead, and Nikki Hickman and Maddie Riley had kills late to put the Hornets away.
Using a string of four points, the Hornets took a 16-12 lead in the third set before the Tigers rallied for five-straight points on serving by Brittany Clem for a 17-16 lead.
The score stayed close the rest of the way before Lacey Hall had a kill for set point.
The Tigers looked as though they were going to wrap up this one in four sets by taking a 7-2 lead on an ace by Riley.
Crothersville led 10-4 on an ace from Hickman before the Tigers charged back to tie the score at 17 all.
The Tigers’ last lead was 18-17 before Medora closed on an 8-2 run to force the fifth set.
Clem and Riley topped the Tigers in aces with four each, while Christian and Hickman each had five kills.
Flynn and Katie Beesley serves six aces apiece for the Hornets (1-6), while Flynn was the leader in kills with seven and Megan Weddell had six.
Medora will try to get a win tonight at Lanesville, while Crothersville will play in a tournament at Springs Valley on Saturday.