Volleyball defeats Rams & Panthers, start 3-0

The Lady Wolverines finished Week One of volleyball on a high note, defeating the South Side Rams 3-2 on Thursday and then followed up the 5 set match with a 3 set sweep of the Riverside Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

South Side - Wolverines came out hot against the Rams, taking the first two sets with great confidence. Sets three and four the tide turned, where the Wolverines dropped two unusual sets back-to-back for the first time since last year’s playoff run to the Rams. South side with those 2 set victories were able to force “sudden death” in set five.

Play to 15 points and win by two is what either team had to do and of course…it took more than just 15 to decide this match. The Wolverines finish off the Rams with a 23-21 fifth set that went 8 points beyond the typical mark. Wolverines pick up the win, but suffer a couple miscues and injuries going into the next match.

Riverside - Serving and front row play was the name of the game in this one as the Wolverines took the 3 set victory convincingly against rival Riv-Ell Cup Riverside Panthers. The Wolverines came into the game knowing that they had the height advantage as well as experience in the front court and they utilized those advantages to perfection.

Morgan Hooker, Claire Noble, and Delaney Sturgeon dominated the front row with height across the board while Alyssa Donley and Ava Lucarelli added from the serving line. The Lady Wolverines had three runs of 8 plus points in a row respectively in each set.

The Wolverines improve to 3-0 (1-0) on the season and will look to next week where they will battle two tough conference teams in Neshannock and Shenango before heading to the small school MAC tournament on the weekend.