In a rematch of the recent conference volleyball championship game, it was the Lady Crusaders of Alliance downing Crawford in 3 sets. St. Agnes avenged their recent loss by defeating the Rams 25-22, 23-25, 15-12 in a battle played Tuesday in Alliance. Crawford bested the Crusaders in the Panhandle tournament in Morrill back on the 27th in three competitive sets. The Rams won the opening game in the JV contest winning in 3 sets, St. Agnes was strong out of the gate.
Three early points by Crusader Delaney Jelinek helped Alliance take an early lead. 8th grader Maslin Breen began her big night with an early kill which gave SA a lead at 4 to 1. Two points by Alliance’s Aubrey Dudden later in the set made the score 7 to 2 in favor of the Crusaders. It was then the Rams’ turn to make plays as Crawford would run off 4 straight to tie the game at 10. A Reese Armstrong ace spike ended the Ram rally, but 6 consecutive points by the visitors made the score 16 to 11 in favor of Crawford. With the Crusaders down by 3, Dudden went to the serving line and tallied 5 points in a row to put the Crusaders ahead 20 to 18. Kills during the spree were recorded by Breen and Armstrong. In the final moments, Alliance would get a point by Aubree Shrewsbury and another kill by Armstrong to secure the win. First set went to the Crusaders 25 to 22.
Five of the first seven points in set #2 went to the Rams as Crawford grabbed an early 5 to 2 advantage. Play was even throughout the middle part of the set with Alliance staying close thanks to plays from Shrewsbury and Armstrong. Three straight points by Armstrong would tie the set at 12. Off the SA bench came Crusader Kale Hulquist who served 5 in a row that put the hosts ahead 18 to 13. The momentum then went to the Rams who answered back with a big spree of their own. Crawford tallied 7 straight to move ahead 21 to 19 before a kill and a point by Breen knotted the game at 21. The set concluded with the Rams making a final push and winning the set 25 to 23.
The race to 15 in the finale saw the match tied at 3 before 5 big points by Dudden gave SA a lead at 8 to 3. Breen added 2 kills during the run. An ace serve by Breen later in the set pushed the Crusader margin to 11 to 5. Another Armstrong kill later got St. Agnes close for the win at 13 to 7. Three straight by the Rams made things interesting before another ace spike by Armstrong gave SA match point. The match ended with the Crusaders garnering the final point and winning set #3 15 to 12.
CRAW 22 25 12
SA 25 23 15
Final stats had Dudden as Alliance top scorer with 14 points Hulquist 5 points Armstrong 5 points 6 kills Breen 11 kills 3 points Shrewsbury 3 points 1 kill
In the opener, it was the Rams winning the game in 3 sets. Crawford took the first set 25 to 22. Six first set points by Alliance’s Penn Vergil kept SA close. Down 22 to 12, the Crusader would make one last rally behind points by Vergil and kills by Hulquist. Alliance got to within 2 at 24 to 22 before the Rams ended the set with one final tally. First set Rams 25 Crusaders 22
It was all St. Agnes in set 2. Early points by Alliance’s Stella Beck helped SA surge ahead 9 to 1. A point by Nala Red Nest put Alliance out in front 13 to 3 later in the ball game. Solid plays by Vergil and Hulquist continued as Alliance built a big lead at 18 to 6. The set finished with SA getting plays by Red Nest and Jamisyn Rasmussen and taking the set 25 to 11.
An ace serve by Crusader Quinn Robertson started action in the third. More points and kills by Beck and Hulquist kept Alliance in striking distance. A point by Alliance’s Natalie Mullen gave St. Agnes a lead at 10 to 8 but it was all Rams down the stretch. Crawford scored 6 of the last 7 points to go on for a 15 to 12 win.
CRAW 25 11 15
SA 22 25 12
Stats Points Beck 8 Robertson 5 Hulquist 4 Vergil 9 Mullen 2 Red Nest 3
Alliance will back at home on Monday hosting Morrill.