BROOKVILLE – The Versailles Lady Tigers defeated the Middletown Madison Lady Mohawks in straight sets to advance in OHSAA DIII volleyball play.
“I love all the leadership on the court coming together at a good time of the year,” said Versailles coach, Liz McNeilan following the match.
The No. 5 seed Lady Tigers took the opening set 25-14 over the No. 18 seed Lady Mohawks to go up 1-0 on the day.
“I think we were a little scared to make errors at the beginning so that aggressiveness turns into missing the court by about two feet,” McNeilan stated. “We jump a little higher, swing a little faster, I think we get that ball in going across the court.”
Set No. 2 had Madison pushing Versailles only to lose to the Lady Tigers by a 25-19 score.
Versailles wasted little time putting the tournament match in the win column with a 25-10 third-set win and advanced in tournament action.
“I feel like they faced adversity well and they came back out and they were ready to power through,” said McNeilan. “We got in connection, they were transitioning tough getting up there and keeping them on their heels with or aggressive offense.”
Coach McNeilan took time to praise her injured senior leader, Cassie Bomholt.
“We do have one senior that’s not been dressing,” McNeilan said. “Cassie Bomholt went down in the spring and she has just done a fabulous job for us as a leader. “She’s a leader in the locker room, she’s a leader on the sideline, she’s talking to the girls all the time, she jumps in every drill at practice and I don’t get to praise her in the games. I’m super proud of her and that is not an easy thing to do especially as a senior. I just want to praise her for her leadership even though she’s off the court. She hasn’t let it hold her back and she’s been a great role model for these girls.”
Versailles will meet the Arcanum Lady Trojans in a Tuesday night, October 24 tournament matchup at Brookville High School with a 6 p.m. start time.
“You focus on the next immediate game,” said Coach McNeilan. “You have to perform in that game and that’s hard to do at times. You have to hold everybody accountable, every point matters so in practice we’ve been focusing on every point.”
