Raiders rally for 3-2 volleyball victory at Triton

by John Lucas | Aug 28, 2018 | Articles, Midway

Midway’s Midway’s Makayla Chavis (11) registers a kill at Triton.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

A hot start had Triton looking to hand visiting rival Midway its first varsity volleyball loss of the season, but the Raiders rallied from down 2-0 to stay unbeaten with a five-set victory. Individual set scores were 14-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13 and 15-12.

“The first set was not great for our behalf,” said Midway coach Brandy Wrench. “We didn’t execute plays. We didn’t serve receive. We didn’t finish our plays. Second set, they started fighting but just quit. Then the third, fourth and fifth, they found their mojo and just kept going from there.”

“It’s a mental thing,” said Triton coach Wendy Simmons. “Volleyball is very mental and that’s what they need to understand.

Communication was cited as a major factor for both sides, as it improved for Midway and broke down for Triton as the match went on.

“Communication I’ve said is always our key aspect,” coach Wrench said. “Communication and picking each other up. That’s going to make a difference in the game.”

“We talk about it all the time,” Simmons said. “They do things in practice for not being loud and not talking, stuff like that. But, sooner or later it’s got to matter to them.”

Senior Alyssa Wrench and junior Caitlyn Holland each had a double-double to lead the Raiders (4-0). Wrench had a co-match-high 11 kills, a co-match-high four blocks and 16 digs. Holland had nine kills, 14 assists, one block, 17 digs and one ace on nine service points.

Makayla Chavis had five kills, one block and two digs. Alexis Jackson had two kills, one block, two digs and two aces on six service points. Maranda Byrd had one kill, four assists and a match-high 19 digs and held serve for two points. Erin Barefoot had one kill, one block, eight digs and one ace on five service points. Jordan Wallum had one kill, one block and four digs and held serve for two points. Karlee Martin had one kill, nine digs and one ace on 15 service points. Sydney Williams had 10 assists, eight digs and one ace on seven service points. Alyssa Wrench had one assist and one ace on four service points. Natalie McPhail had one dig and held serve for one point.

Senior Hannah Jackson had 11 kills and four blocks, both co-match-high totals, and sophomore Addie Matthews had 10 kills to lead the Hawks (4-5).

Evie Pollard had seven kills, two blocks and four digs. Bethany Norris had five kills, one assist and one block. Sarah Phillips had two kills, one assist, 16 digs and one ace on nine service points. Breighanna Hobbs had two kills and eight digs and held serve for two points. Ella Layn had one kill, a match-high 35 assists and 17 digs and held serve for 12 service points. Gracyn Slaughter had one kill, 17 digs and a match-high six aces on 14 service points. Alexis Howard had 12 digs and five aces on 10 service points. Jackson had nine digs and held serve for one point. Matthews had five digs. Sarah Pope had one dig.

“We still need a couple of players to step up,” Simmons said. “And we commit way too many errors.”

Triton opened the match on an 8-0 run, including four aces from Slaugther. Midway was unable to regroup, as the Hawks dominated the remainder of the set.

Midway held an 18-14 lead late in the second set when a Matthews kill, assisted by Layn, sparked a 7-0 run to give Triton the lead. With Triton holding a 23-22 lead, a Midway error and another Matthews kill, assisted by Layn, gave the Hawks the 2-0 lead.

With Triton holding a 19-15 lead in the third set, it was Midway’s turn to rally, as four straight kills, two from Chavis and two from Alyssa Wrench, all assisted by Holland, as part of an 8-0 run gave Midway the lead. With Midway holding set point at 24-21, the Hawks were able to cut the lead to one before a back row kill from Byrd, assisted by Holland, kept the Raiders’ chances alive.

With Midway leading 14-10 in the fourth set, a 5-0 run widened the gap and the Raiders controlled the set from there, winning it to force the decisive fifth set.

Midway fully controlled the fifth set early, setting up match point at 14-7. Triton nearly fought all the way back, cutting it to 14-12, but Barefoot’s lone kill of the game, assisted by Holland, came at the best possible time for Midway, ending the match.

Midway’s junior varsity team also rallied to take a 2-1 win.

Both teams will have a quick turnaround as both will be in action again Tuesday. Triton hosts unbeaten West Johnston (5-0) and Midway opens East Central 2-A Conference play against Spring Creek (0-5).

“What we started with tonight is kicked out the door,” coach Wrench said. “Whatever karma was bad or whatever bad attitude was brought, that’s not going to be brought the rest of the season. We’re going to learn from this and move on. We can’t start that way in conference. We’ve got to start strong and finish strong. Everyone in the conference is out to get us. For two years in a row we’ve been on top and they don’t want us there anymore.”