Meigs outlasts Angels in five games

CENTENARY — The Meigs volleyball team stayed unbeaten this season — and made a little history in the process — after Wednesday night’s thrilling 27-25, 16-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-12 victory over host Gallia Academy during a non-conference matchup at the new GAHS gymnasium.

The Lady Marauders improved to 4-0 overall this fall and became the first visiting team to come away from the GAHS gymnasium victorious, after the Blue Angels (5-3) won three straight home decisions to start the 2009 campaign.

It was the second straight five-game match for the Angels, who defeated host Jackson just 24 hours earlier during an epic 23-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 17-15 come from behind triumph.

But Wednesday, it was the Meigs’ front court attack that ultimately made the difference in the 3-2 outcome. The Lady Marauders posted team totals of 50 kills, 46 assists and eight blocks while also combining for 95-of-102 serving — an effort of 93 percent.

Shellie Bailey led the MHS service attack with 13 points, followed by Emalee Glass with nine and Meri VanMeter with six. Tricia Smith had five points as well for the victors.

Bailey also led the net attack with 21 kills, followed by Alison Brown with 13 kills and Morgan Howard with seven kills. Bailey, Howard and Alaine Arnold also led the Lady Marauders with two blocks apiece.

Tricia Smith led the Meigs offense with 25 assists and Glass was close behind with 19 assists. The Meigs JV team also won by a score of 25-20, 25-18.

Amanda McGhee led the Angels with nine points. No other Gallia Academy statistical information was available at presstime.

GAHS returns to action today when it hosts Ironton in an Southeastern Ohio Athletic League matchup at 5:15 p.m. Meigs travels to Nelsonville-York for a Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division contest at 5:30 p.m.

Eastern downs Lady Raiders in three

TUPPERS PLAINS — The Eastern volleyball team won its fifth straight match of the season Thursday night after posting a 25-14, 25-10, 25-15 victory over visiting River Valley during a non-conference matchup in Meigs County.

The Lady Eagles improved to 6-1 overall this fall, leading start to finish in the straight-game decision. The Lady Raiders fell to 2-2 overall and had a two-match winning streak snapped in the process.

Brenna Holter, Britney Morrison and Sami Cummins led the EHS service attack with nine points apiece, followed by Whitney Putman with six and the duo of Lauren Cummings and Beverly Maxson with five each.

Jamie Swatzel led the net attack with nine kills, followed by Kasey Turley with six kills and the team’s lone block. Holter and Maxson also had five and four kills, respectively.

Kelsey Sands and Katelyn Birchfield led RVHS with four service points apiece. Sands and Ciara Bostic also had team-bests of two aces, and Bostic also had five assists.

Jacqueline Jacobs led River Valley’s net attack with nine kills, followed by Birchfield with four kills. Bostic and Kaitie Roberts both had two kills as well, and Aubrie Rice led the defense with nine digs.

Eastern claimed an evening sweep with a 25-23, 21-25, 25-16 victory in the junior varsity contest.

The Lady Eagles return to action today when they travel to Stewart to take on Federal Hocking in a TVC Hocking contest at 5:30 p.m. RVHS returns to action today when its hosts Coal Grove at 5:30 p.m.

SGHS chops down Lady Oaks

OAK HILL — Five straight road games. Four straight wins. Not a bad start for the Lady Rebels.

After dropping the season opener to Eastern, the South Gallia volleyball team has proven itself to be road warriors over the last week after winning its fourth straight decision Thursday night in a hard-fought 25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-15 victory over host Oak Hill in a non-conference matchup in Jackson County.

The Lady Rebels (4-1) were battled by the Lady Oaks in the first three games, none of which were decided by more than three points. However, the Lady Rebels persevered through those tough games to come away with a 2-1 lead in the match.

And in Game 4, SGHS wore down the competition for a 10-point win to claim the 3-1 decision. Since the opener, the Lady Rebels have defeated Southern, Fairland, Ironton Saint Joseph and now OHHS.

Chandra Canaday led the service attack with 10 points and a team-high six aces, followed by Hailee Swain, Tori Duncan, Breanna West and Ellie Bostic with eight points apiece. Tayler Duncan also had seven points in the triumph.

Swain led the net attack with 14 kills, followed by Meghan Caldwell with seven kills. Both Bostic and Alisa Johnson had six kills each and Canaday added four kills. Caldwell and Johnson also had seven and five blocks, respectively.

South Gallia will look for its fifth straight win today when it travels to Huntington for a non-conference matchup against Grace Christian School at 6:30 p.m.