DARLINGTON - For Darlington senior Elizabeth Mathias, Parents Night was a chance to make a statement on the volleyball court.
Darlington (2-8 SWAL) stormed back from a 12-6 deficit in the fourth game behind sophomore Cassidy Chambers. Chambers scored 12 straight service points and had three of her four aces during the run to lift the Redbirds to a 25-16 comeback win to seal the match.
"It felt really good to win it for our parents," Mathias said. "We really needed it. We needed it for them and ourselves."
The Redbirds won the first set 25-19 and then dropped the second set 25-23. However, they rebounded to win the third set 25-13 and Chambers, who had 18 assists, sealed the match with her serving. The Redbirds' run featured a kill by junior Emily Salathe, a kill by senior Carley McDonald and a block by Mathias.
"I was very happy with the way she served," Darlington coach Pam Ritchie said of Chambers. "She missed a couple serves earlier. She doesn't normally miss serves."
With Darlington senior Vanessa Riley injured, Chambers did the job of setting up the Redbird hitters.
"She really stepped up," Ritchie said of Chambers. "I was really happy a sophomore stepped up and took a leadership role."
The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead in the first set behind some strong net play by Mathias and McDonald. Darlington junior Laura Steiner came through with a kill and then delivered a pair of aces to give the Redbirds a 13-6 lead they never relinquished. Mathias had 14 blocks total in the match and McDonald had eight kills. Darlington senior Chayse Hermanson had a team-high 12 digs.
"We were really slow at the start," Mathias said. "Once we got going, we got to it. It really was a team effort."
Boscobel junior Nicole Pegram scored four consecutive service points late in the second set including two aces to give the Bulldogs a 20-17 lead. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 23-18, but had trouble closing out the game. McDonald and Mathias powered home kills and three service points from Steiner helped tie the game at 23 before Boscobel was able to pull it out.
"I was surprised we dropped the second game," Ritchie said. "Volleyball is a game of momentum. Sometimes we have a hard time coming back from a loss."
After struggling with passing and service receive during stretches of the second game, the Redbirds rebounded and Steiner's serving was a catalyst in winning the third game.
The Redbirds host the Darlington Invitational Saturday.
"We are familiar with some of the Six Rivers teams," Ritchie said referring to Argyle and Pecatonica. "The tournament will help a little bit as we get towards the tournament and playoffs at the end of the season."
Darlington (2-8 SWAL) stormed back from a 12-6 deficit in the fourth game behind sophomore Cassidy Chambers. Chambers scored 12 straight service points and had three of her four aces during the run to lift the Redbirds to a 25-16 comeback win to seal the match.
"It felt really good to win it for our parents," Mathias said. "We really needed it. We needed it for them and ourselves."
The Redbirds won the first set 25-19 and then dropped the second set 25-23. However, they rebounded to win the third set 25-13 and Chambers, who had 18 assists, sealed the match with her serving. The Redbirds' run featured a kill by junior Emily Salathe, a kill by senior Carley McDonald and a block by Mathias.
"I was very happy with the way she served," Darlington coach Pam Ritchie said of Chambers. "She missed a couple serves earlier. She doesn't normally miss serves."
With Darlington senior Vanessa Riley injured, Chambers did the job of setting up the Redbird hitters.
"She really stepped up," Ritchie said of Chambers. "I was really happy a sophomore stepped up and took a leadership role."
The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead in the first set behind some strong net play by Mathias and McDonald. Darlington junior Laura Steiner came through with a kill and then delivered a pair of aces to give the Redbirds a 13-6 lead they never relinquished. Mathias had 14 blocks total in the match and McDonald had eight kills. Darlington senior Chayse Hermanson had a team-high 12 digs.
"We were really slow at the start," Mathias said. "Once we got going, we got to it. It really was a team effort."
Boscobel junior Nicole Pegram scored four consecutive service points late in the second set including two aces to give the Bulldogs a 20-17 lead. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 23-18, but had trouble closing out the game. McDonald and Mathias powered home kills and three service points from Steiner helped tie the game at 23 before Boscobel was able to pull it out.
"I was surprised we dropped the second game," Ritchie said. "Volleyball is a game of momentum. Sometimes we have a hard time coming back from a loss."
After struggling with passing and service receive during stretches of the second game, the Redbirds rebounded and Steiner's serving was a catalyst in winning the third game.
The Redbirds host the Darlington Invitational Saturday.
"We are familiar with some of the Six Rivers teams," Ritchie said referring to Argyle and Pecatonica. "The tournament will help a little bit as we get towards the tournament and playoffs at the end of the season."
