On Wednesday, Aug. 21, Manual’s girls’ varsity volleyball team faced off against the Collins Titans, winning three sets with ease.
The game started off with a strong spike from Piper Fulton (#22, 11). This was followed by an ace from Alyssa Faber (#13, 11). The Lady Crimsons scored four consecutive points before Faber missed her serve and the Titans took possession.
Avery Schrenger (#8, 12) blocked the Titans’ return, scoring a point. Ally Hamilton (#2, 10) attempted to return the ball, but it landed out of bounds. The Lady Crimsons continued to rack up points and solidify their lead. A few plays later, Cali Easley (#4, 12) got an ace, making the score 9-3 in favor of the Lady Crimsons.
The teams volleyed the ball back and forth for some time, until the Titans were called for a fourth hit. Alexis May (#16, 10) served the ball, scoring three aces in a row. Following this run, the Titans scored twice, and Manual called a timeout.
When play resumed, the Titans were serving, but Kali Dearborn (#9, 11) was quick to score. Suzetta Fuller (#11, 11) served, and the Titans couldn’t return it.
The Lady Crimsons maintained their lead, aided by an aggressive spike from Schrenger. The Titans sent the ball out of bounds several times in a row, widening the score difference.
A block from Nadia Bishop (#7, 12) earned the Lady Crimsons point 23. This was followed by a point from Schrenger, bringing the score to 24-12 in the Crimsons’ favor. Soon after, Hamilton spiked the ball, winning the first set for the Lady Crimsons.
Manual started the second set with a lot of momentum. Bishop scored the first point, and the team managed four consecutive points before the Titans could stop them. The Lady Crimsons quickly restarted their streak, scoring six additional points.
Marlowe Jeffreys (#5, 10) and Faber scored two consecutive aces. Following that Fulton and Hamilton had two back-to-back blocks, which brought the score to 23-10.
The Lady Crimsons were close to sealing the set, but the Titans kicked it into gear. However, Schrenger scored an ace, bringing them to set point. Bishop leaped and spiked the ball, scoring the winning set point. The Lady Crimsons won the second set 25-11.
The Titans scored the first point of the third set, but quick blocks from Bishop and Dearborn helped Manual solidify an early lead. Following a successful serve by Dearborn, the score was 4-2.
The Titans caught up, scoring twice in a row. Immediately after, Hamilton spiked the ball, allowing the Lady Crimsons to regain their rhythm. Dearborn then served, earning three consecutive points.
Schrenger earned an additional point with a powerful spike while Fulton and Bishop scored back-to-back points, bringing the score to 13-8. Although the Titans’ score began to creep up, they were unable to keep a streak for long. The Lady Crimsons maintained their lead, 18-12.
The Titans scored three times in a row, narrowing the gap, though Manual was quick to respond to the Titans. A net violation on Manual made the score 19-16. Dearborn scored an ace with her serve followed by another ace from Morgan Horning (#12, 10).
The score was then 23-16, but a spike from Easley earned the set point. The Titans were able to score two final points before Bishop slammed the volleyball into their court. The Crimsons won the third and final set 25-18, winning all three sets of the game.
Their next game will be against Providence on Monday Aug. 25, 7:00 p.m.
