ARCANUM – In 2023 Arcanum went to Preble Shawnee in what would be a key match-up leading to Arcanum’s only league loss in the WOAC. The Trojans would end up in tie with the Arrows both having outstanding years.
Preble Shawnee has been in the mix for the league title all three years of the WOAC finishing runner-up to Tri-Village in 2021, League Champs in 2022 and Co-Champs with Arcanum in 2023, knowing that history this is one of those games you expect to impact the conference title.
In 2023 the game went the full 5 sets … but there would no drama in this one as Arcanum won in three straight 25-4, 25-8 and 25-10.
Arcanum may not have said it, but it was definitely a long year to wait to get their rematch and they took full advantage.
“After our win against Ft. Recovery on Saturday, I think it gave our girls a huge boost to come out ready to play today, we knew Shawnee is not a team that you can just come in and expect to just play an ok game, and expect a good result,” Arcanum coach Jacie Holman said.
The Trojans game was more than ok as they blitzed the opening set winning 25-4 and the 2nd – 25-8. They did it with outstanding service and play at the net drawing praise from coach Holman.
“I think if there’s one thing people need to watch out for when it comes to us, it’s our serving. We can move the ball around with nasty floats, and they drop. You know, we always talk about in our own practice, the serving is what helps us. I don’t think that there is a stronger team in the WOAC with our serving, and it helps us every single day in practice,” Holman added.
Arcanum was able to keep Preble Shawnee off balance with their serve most of the night but their game at the net was strong as well.
“We wanted to get them out of system right away and make it hard for them to get the ball to Sally Montgomery (Shawnee’s outstanding jr. outside hitter) because we knew that’s where the ball was going to go, and I think we performed that pretty well. I’ve got to give credit to my girls, my right sides that were out there on her, and definitely even put some of those balls away against her,” Holman praised.
Senior Mackenzie Byrne had 9 kills, and Senior Alexis Gibbons had 7. Juniors Caroline Long and Kamryn Beisner each had 6 kills to lead the Trojans.
They were set up by jr. Grace Fry who led with 16 assists and sophomore Matty Noe who had 12.
While Preble Shawnee showed a little more fight in the 3rd set it would be too much to come back from falling 25-10.
“I give kudos to my girls. Our word for tonight was discipline, we wanted to be disciplined and mentally tough, and I think that’s exactly what we were tonight, Holman explained.
“When I look at my girls, there are some nights that we’ve had a few off, and other girls have really stepped up and that’s the been the difference about this team, is we are playing together as a team. We’re not playing as individuals. Our goal is to win as a team and not as one person,” Holman concluded.
That philosophy appears to be working, as Arcanum remains undefeated so far this year at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference, with big wins over Newton and Ansonia in the league as well. The Trojans are back in action on Tuesday, traveling to take on Dixie in WOAC action.
Preble Shawnee falls to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference, and they will be back in action on Monday, September 9th at Madison.
