Paced by Ryli Poss, the Alliance volleyball team rallied past Gordon Rushville on Tuesday. Unofficially, Poss ended the game with 14 kills and 8 points as the Bulldogs bested the Mustangs 22 25 25 21 25 22 and 25 22 for their third win on the year. The game was played in Gordon. Alliance also got a strong effort from Sophomore Maslin Breen who finished with 10 kills.
Gordon/Rushville came out red hot in the opening set. The hosts stormed out to a 6 to 0 lead before a kill by Bulldog Brinlee Lanik stopped the spurt. Kills by Poss and Breen followed as AHS stayed close. An ace serve by Poss made it 11 to 8 with G/R in the lead. The Mustangs though controlled the action at the midway point. Alliance would trail 19 to 12 before one last surge. Points and kills in the final moments by Lanik, Poss, and Brooke Bailey got the Dogs to within 5 at 24 to 19. A kill by Alliance’s Olivia Krejci was followed by more points by Poss. AHS sliced their deficit to 2 but it was the Mustangs scoring the last point and taking the first set 25 22.
Action in set #2 was another close one. Gordon led 2 to 0 before a mini run by Alliance gave the guests the lead. Alliance got early ace spikes by Breen and Krejci to began their comeback. Half way through the set, Poss had a kill and an ace serve that put the Alliance advantage at 9 to 5. Up 11 to 10, Lanik went to the line and scored 5 straight as the Bulldog went ahead by 6. Strong net play for AHS from Kaitlyn Shannon and Breen ensued as the visitors maintained their margin. An ace serve by Jadyn Aguallo then made it 21 to 18 in favor of AHS. The set came to a conclusion with the Bulldogs getting the win thanks to big plays by Bailey, Lanik, and Krejci. Alliance took set 2 25 21.
AHS used the momentum from set 2 to take a nice lead in the third. The Bulldogs roared to a 6 to 1 lead thanks to points and kills by Breen, Poss, Krejci, and Avery Gomez. Gordon answered back with a spree to get within one before 2 points by Ande Girard made it 12 to 9. More kills by Poss helped Alliance later in the set withstand a Gordon rally. The clubs would swap points before 2 Aguallo points finished the set. Alliance took the third 25 22.
Similar to set one, it was the Mustangs racing out to a big lead in the fourth. Gordon scored 7 consecutive tallies to lead 7 to 0. Alliance ended the run with points and kills by Lanik, Kaelyn Mazanec, Poss, and Breen. Two Gomez tallies gave Alliance the lead at 9 to 8. The set would then be tied at 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. During the action, the Dogs would get more kills by Poss, Shannon, and Krejci. Knotted at 21, Alliance would take the set and the match with big efforts down the stretch from Poss, Breen, and Bailey. A kill by Bulldog Ahrianna Galvan finished off the Mustangs 25 22.
All. 22. 25. 25. 25
GR. 25. 21. 22. 22
Alliance travels to Hastings for action on Saturday.