BLANCHARDVILLE - Albany used a strong run in game one to kick-start a four-set win, 25-12, 24-26, 25-16, 25-20, against Pecatonica, Thursday.
"We wanted to get out to a quick start," Vikings coach Cher Schliem said. "When we didn't we got down right away and it was tough to get back."
Trailing 4-1 in the opening game, Albany went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by two blocks from junior Sydney Bump. With the game tight at 11-8, the Comets went on another run. Kaitlyn Schulz and Tamiya Sandlin blocked a kill to start the rally, Clare Koopmans served 10 straight times, recording three aces and Albany took a 22-8 lead.
"She was big. I don't think we would have been able to step it up if she missed a serve," Comets head coach Connie Wunschel said. "But (Pecatonica) came back and caught up to us. We got flat feet and they brought it back."
In the middle of Game 2, the Vikings found their stride, turning an 11-15 deficit into a 17-15 lead.
Albany kept fighting and had Pecatonica one point away from a 2-0 hole, leading 24-23. But the Vikings responded. Nicole Dearth had a big block to tie the score and Cassie Swenson recorded an ace as Pecatonica tied the match at 1-1.
A mid-game 12-3 run by Albany put the Game 3 out of reach at 21-13.
In the final game, it was the Sydney Bump show. As Pecatonica tried to squeak out another win, it was Bump who stepped up to slam the door.
"(Bump) took every ball. If the ball was on the net, Sydney turned and got in position to put it down," Wunschel said.
Tied up at 17, Bump had two blocks, two kills and a couple big digs over the final stretch to secure the win.
Bump finished the night with 21 kills and 23 digs. Schulz had eight kills, Hillary Best had 24 digs, Courtney Pfeuti dished out 29 assists and Koopmans led all servers with five aces.
For Pecatonica, Swenson had seven kills and 15 digs and Kaitlyn Linder was 22-for-23 from the service line.
"It was good, solid volleyball with some long volleys. We played the game we wanted to play. Hats off to Albany, they made us move around the floor," Schliem said.
"We wanted to get out to a quick start," Vikings coach Cher Schliem said. "When we didn't we got down right away and it was tough to get back."
Trailing 4-1 in the opening game, Albany went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by two blocks from junior Sydney Bump. With the game tight at 11-8, the Comets went on another run. Kaitlyn Schulz and Tamiya Sandlin blocked a kill to start the rally, Clare Koopmans served 10 straight times, recording three aces and Albany took a 22-8 lead.
"She was big. I don't think we would have been able to step it up if she missed a serve," Comets head coach Connie Wunschel said. "But (Pecatonica) came back and caught up to us. We got flat feet and they brought it back."
In the middle of Game 2, the Vikings found their stride, turning an 11-15 deficit into a 17-15 lead.
Albany kept fighting and had Pecatonica one point away from a 2-0 hole, leading 24-23. But the Vikings responded. Nicole Dearth had a big block to tie the score and Cassie Swenson recorded an ace as Pecatonica tied the match at 1-1.
A mid-game 12-3 run by Albany put the Game 3 out of reach at 21-13.
In the final game, it was the Sydney Bump show. As Pecatonica tried to squeak out another win, it was Bump who stepped up to slam the door.
"(Bump) took every ball. If the ball was on the net, Sydney turned and got in position to put it down," Wunschel said.
Tied up at 17, Bump had two blocks, two kills and a couple big digs over the final stretch to secure the win.
Bump finished the night with 21 kills and 23 digs. Schulz had eight kills, Hillary Best had 24 digs, Courtney Pfeuti dished out 29 assists and Koopmans led all servers with five aces.
For Pecatonica, Swenson had seven kills and 15 digs and Kaitlyn Linder was 22-for-23 from the service line.
"It was good, solid volleyball with some long volleys. We played the game we wanted to play. Hats off to Albany, they made us move around the floor," Schliem said.
