Bobcat Spikers Down Keystone In Straight Sets

Images by Nate Girvan: Above – Hadlee Campbell on the return.

The Clarion Area Bobcats hosted the Keystone Panthers, on Tuesday September 13th, in a matchup of unbeaten Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference teams, with the Bobcats winning in straight sets (25-17, 26-24, 25-18).

Clarion led the first set 5-1 after four service points, including a pair of aces by Hadlee Campbell. Later, the Cats had a 13-11 lead, with the Panthers serving. The serve was long and Campbell followed with four more service points to move the lead to 18-11. And after trading points much of the way, Adia Needham had a service point to close out the set.

When asked about Hadley’s fine serving in the first set, Coach Shari Campbell said, “That’s something she’s been working on, so it’s great to see. She’s very powerful. But accuracy is one of the things she has been working on. So that really turned the side in the first set.”

Coach Campbell was happy with the overall team play in set one. “I’m really pleased with the way we played the first set. Coming off the weekend (competing in the prestigious Bulldog Invitational at Wilson), I think we gained some confidence, so we’re not inexperienced, young volleyball players anymore. You saw a little bit of that confidence in that first set.”

The second set was nip and tuck all the way. Taylor Alston had a big set at the line, serving for six points, including three aces in a row at one point. Ariana Girvan scored four service points including a pair of aces. She also had a number of kills, including the decisive game winner.

Coach Campbell saw some big growth in her team in the second set. “I think we didn’t stick to our game plan. We were kind of like hanging around, not making decisive decisions. But then I think, that once we did and we had our backs against the wall, it’s good to see our team respond in that way. I like the feeling of coming from behind, when your back’s against the wall. That’s going to teach these kids a lot moving forward.

“Both of our outside hitters, Hadlee and Aryanna had to take swings to win that set. I think that’s going to grow the team a ton. I also thought Taylor served really well for us tonight; that really helped us in set two, when everybody else was struggling a little bit, when we were kind of fishing around for who is going to make the serve.”

Grace Ochs opened the third set with two service points and the Bobcats never looked back, leading the rest of the way. Campbell had six service points in the third. Their were a number of big kills during the set, including the game and set winner by Needham.

Coach Campbell shared, “Aryanna served really well to tonight, too. And serving and acing from some people, from those three kids (Aryana, Hadlee and Taylor).”

On the connection between her two outside hitters, Coach Campbell said, “That’s what you want from your two outside hitters, to complement each other and they get along really well which is great. Aryanna kind of really looks after Hadlee. She’s taken her under her wing. So that’s really great to see.”

There was much more for Coach Campbell to be pleased about, “I think Bri Pierce’s passing, lights out kind of balls, that makes Taylor’s job a lot easier, giving her those balls. She really has stepped into that Libero role, with a lot of leadership and a lot of confidence. That helps us a ton.

“We blocked well. I thought that Marley (Kline) and Adia and Brenna (Armstrong) got lots of hands on balls and that really changes how a hitter’s thinking.

“I think you saw some really great swings from Sophie on the right side. Sophie’s a lefty and that’s her strong side. That gives our setters a chance to get her the ball. She can kind of hit like an outside hitter over there. When you have a righty over there, sometimes you have to be a bit more technical, but Sophie can really adjust because of that. And that just gives us a lot of versatility.”

Hadley’s night included 13 points (4 aces), 11 digs and five assists. Aryana had 10 kills, 8 digs, 7 points (2 aces) and an assist. Taylor scored 10 points (4 aces), 6 assists, 6 digs and a pair of kills. Bri had 17 digs, 4 points (1 ace) and an assist. Grace finished with 10 assists, 5 digs and four points.

Adia scored 2 points (1 ace), to go along with a pair of kills and three digs. Sophie had a kill and a dig and Marley had a kill and two digs.

The Bobcat Junior Varsity won their match 2-1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-19)

Natalie Durish had 8 points, 10 digs and three points for the Cats. Rhiannon Copenhaver had 7 points (3 aces), 14 assists and four digs. Kelsey Best scored 7 points, to go along with three digs. Anna O’Toole had 5 points, 7 kills and thirteen digs. Brinley Kiskadden scored 3 points and had three digs. Lauren Brinkley had an ace and Avia Diehl registered a kill.

The Bobcats will host the Warren Dragons, on Thursday (September 15th).

(Thanks to Nate Girvan for the pics!! Keep it going, Cats!!!!)