UNION CITY – In a battle of two 5-0 teams in the WOAC it was the Lady Trojans coming away with the big win in three straight sets swinging strong and making the right adjustments at the right time throughout the game.
The match clearly featured two of the stronger more athletic teams in the conference and although the Trojans won 25-21, 25-22 and 25-20 the home Blackhawks had opportunities but was unable to make the winning plays needed at key points in the match.
In front of a packed house and jubilant student cheering sections both squads went back and forth in the opening set with a highlight reel of plays being made by both teams keeping everyone engaged in the game.
Only a point would separate the two teams early on and with score tied at 9-9 the Hawks scored 4 straight blocking at the net to go ahead 13-9 prompting a timeout from Arcanum coach Jacie Holman.
Arcanum then switched from swinging strong to placing the ball in open areas to offset the double and triple front at the net to run off 4 straight points prompting a timeout from Mississinawa Valley coach Nancy Whitted to make their adjustment.
The lead see sawed back and forth with the score tied at 19 before Arcanum strung together a few successful plays and eventually winning the opening set 25-21.
The Hawks jumped out in front in the second set and held multiple leads of more than a point, but Arcanum inched forward taking a two-point lead midway and maintained that margin throughout winning set two 25-22.
In the third and what would be the final set Arcanum was clicking on all cylinders, adding to what was already strong service and swing with aggressive attacking plays that the Blackhawks couldn’t answer losing the set 25-20 and the match.
It would be a disappointing night for coach Whitted and her team who had high expectations especially with the way they had been playing coming into tonight’s game.
They say “Patience is a Virtue Best Served Cold” but in this case Mississinawa Valley coach Nancy Whitted’s patience may have been tested further than she wanted.
“I knew we’d give them (Arcanum) good competition, but I also thought it would be five sets, maybe four … but really didn’t expect them to beat us in three. But our serving just killed us,” Whitted stated.
Mississinawa serve game was cold all night maybe due to nerves in a big environment and a key game in the conference played a factor … but they were not able to get their serves in play.
On the flip side Arcanum coach Jacie Holman was pleased with her teams serve game and in the end it was maybe the deciding factor.
“We don’t just have one or two servers, our whole team can go back there and really serve well and it’s not just being able to serve to different positions. It’s being able to go see it, do a drop, like, where it floats and then drops, and it’s hard defensively to do anything with it, and that’s our focus, then be aggressive and get them out of system, and then when it comes back, we’ve got such big swingers in the front row that we can touch ball and they can’t come again,” Holman stated after the game.
Mississinawa matched the aggressive play with their own athletic players and big hitters but execution in serving would be the difference.
Mississinawa Valley was led by led by Danika Neargarder with 22 assists. Allyson Waymire and Cora Hoggatt each had 9 Kills and Allyson Waymire and Makenna Hoggatt both had 12 digs.
“This was a big one for our team and the girls really cared about it and I know they’re pretty disappointed in themselves … but coach Holman and Arcanum have a really good team,” Whitted concluded.
The Hawks drop to 5-1 in the WOAC and is 9-4 overall and they will play at Twin Valley South on Thursday.
For Arcanum and coach Holman it was a big win and a lot of fun and just what her team needed at the midpoint of the season.
“We know we’ve got a big target on our back. And I tell the girls all the time, bring it. That’s what I want. I want to be that target so we can show up every single night and say, we’re going to bring it just as much,” Holman explained.
Arcanum was led by Alexis Gibbons with 11 kills and Mackenzie Byrne 10. Byrne also had 16 digs to lead the way and Kamryn Beisner had 10, Gracy Fry led with 17 assists and Matty Noe had 12.
“This was a game that we needed to really get back into the swing of things. We are truly starting to show that we’re a force to be reckoned with. In that last set I think we were aggressive at the net and back at the service line as well,” Homan concluded.
The Trojans remain undefeated at 6-0 in the conference and 11-0 overall and they will host National Trail on Thursday.
Looking down the road the Trojans have a match-up on October 1st with the only other undefeated team left in the WOAC Franklin Monroe who currently stands at 5-0, 7-6.
