It’s homecoming week for the students at Crestview High School in the small town of Convoy, Ohio.
You opened the door to the school, and you could hear and see the excitement. The students singing and dancing. Elementary kids running around talking with their friends, while their parents were up in the stands. The smell of popcorn and pizza from the local bar, filled the gymnasium.
The Knights (4-5) girls varsity volleyball team was playing in front of a home crowd, for the first time in 10 days (4 games), taking on the Bluffton Pirates (10-5), in a Northwest Conference action.
The first set was a back and forth affair, with both teams trading points and streaks. The Knights would go up 10-9 on a long rally by both teams, with lots of digs and blocks. The Pirates would call a timeout down 12-9. They’d go on a small run, and get the set to 17-16, before forcing the Knights to call a timeout. A Crestview ace, would make it 21-18, and the Pirates would use their last timeout. It would be to no avail, as the Lady Knights would win the first set 25-20.
The Lady Knights would start out the 2nd set hot, winning the first 4 points. The Lady Pirates would get on the board after a long rally to make it 4-1. They’d come back and tie it at 5-5. Crestview would get it to 10-7, but again, Bluffton came back to tie it at 10-10. Crestview would call a timeout with the game tied at 18-18, after Bluffton got 4 of 5 points. They’d trade point back and forth, getting it to 22-22. Crestview would score 2 straight, to make it 24-22. A Bluffton timeout would get them a point at 24-23, but the Lady Knights would close it out, winning a hard fought 2nd set 25-23.
The Lady Pirates however, would not go out quietly. They quickly got out to a 8-3 lead, forcing Knights head coach Tammy Gregory to call an early timeout. The break worked, as they’d get 4 of the next 5 points to make it 9-7. A Bluffton point, then Crestview rattled off 4 straight to take their first lead of the 3rd set 11-10.
As it was all game long, it would be back and forth. Both teams making hard digs and saves, trading points and short streaks. It was a 17-17 game, when the Lady Pirates would score 3 straight points to make it 20-17. That would force the Knights to use their final timeout of the set.
Once again, that timeout stopped all the momentum C-O-L-D, as the Crestview Lady Knights would score 7 straight points, and win the 3rd set 25-20, and the match with a 3-0 sweep.
I spoke with Crestview Lady Knights Head Coach Tammy Gregory after the game.
“There was so much on the line. We knew that Bluffton would be at the top of the conference at the start of the year, and knew that we could not overlook anybody. I’m so proud of the girls and how they played tonight.”
I noticed that the Knights had a player, all the way at the back line. That was something I hadn’t seen them do so far this season. I asked Coach Gregory, if that was specific for this game, or would that be a season long change.
“They’re not a team that’s going to tip a lot, so we were able to move our defense around a bit more. We wanted to make sure that we protected that out of bounds line.”
Leading the way for the Lady Knights in the victory tonight…..
Serving
Ayla Kreischer 15/16 with 2 aces
Kenadie Schwartz 13/14 with 2 aces
Kaci Gregory 11/13 with 2 aces
Nora Perkins 14/14 with 1 ace
Hitting
Kaci Gregory 12 kills
Kenadie Schwartz 9 kills
Ayla Kreischer 8 kills
Setting
Nora Perkins 21 assists
Kenadie Schwartz 9 assists
Digs
Kaci Gregory 10 digs
Ayla Kreischer 8 digs
Zoe Ross 6 digs
Blocks
Alecta Baxter 3 stuff blocks
Kenadie Schwartz & Ayla Kreischer 2 stuff blocks each.
I’d like to thank Daily Dose in Convoy for being a sponsor of the allsportsfan.com Player of the Game.
For all your special-tea drinks, high protein breakfasts, and snacks, stop into the Daily Dose in Convoy.
I personally eat and enjoy their Banana Nut Protein Bowl.
Located at the corner of US-49 and Tully Street in downtown Convoy. Check out their Facebook page for store hours, drink menu and specials.
The Lady Knights are now 5-5 overall and an undefeated 3-0 in Northwest Conference play.
Their next game is next Monday night, at home against the Van Wert Cougars 1-11 overall and 1-4 in Western Buckeye League.
JV starts at 5:30 PM, with varsity to start afterwards.
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