Big Red bounces back
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STEUBENVILLE -- The Big Red volleyball team bounced back against Buckeye Local.
Big Red and the Panthers both lost their first matches of the day against Brooke, and the two teams from Jefferson County met in the nightcap. In the end, Big Red did what it had to do to sweep Buckeye Local, 25-22, 25-18, in the third match of a tri Thursday night inside the Crimson Center.
"We had a better performance in this one," Big Red (12-10) head coach Logan Colabella said.
The Panthers battled against the home team, but the Red-and-Black were too much to overcome.
"I got to see them play early in the season against Harrison Central," Buckeye Local (2-19) head coach Abbey Wilson said about Big Red. "I knew they were tough. I knew they had some strong hitters, and they hit the ball well. We made some mental mistakes. I knew it was going to be a challenge."
Individually for Big Red, Kaitlyn Smith collected five points, two aces, two kills and eight assists, Aubrey Slussar scored five points to go along with seven assists and Emma Lyons ended up with nine kills.
Also for the victors, Analesa Purdue produced six points, Giuliana Cramer recorded one point and one kill and Sena Smith contributed five points. Finally, Kayla Biasi tallied one point.
"We played with mor energy," Colabella said. "We stayed up."
Individually for Buckeye Local, Brooke Kovalski led the way with four kills, and Jenna DelVecchio, Allie Emfield and Kylie Watt all tallied two kills. Alyssa Dailey and Watt each collected two aces, and Dailey delivered seven digs. Finally, Maddie Roset recorded seven assists.
"I don't think we have played them since I have been the head coach," Colabella said about Buckeye Local.
The first game was close as Big Red held a 13-11 lead. Buckeye Local came back to tie the score at 16 causing Colabella to call a timeout. Big Red bounced back to take a 20-18 lead, however, the Panthers rallied to knot the score at 20, and it was also tied at 21. Big Red then scored three points to take a 24-21 lead causing Wilson to call a timeout.
Big Red was able to score the point it needed to win the game by three to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Panthers got off to a fast start in the second game as they built a 7-2 advantage, but Wilson called a timeout after Big Red pulled to within in 7-6.
The game ended up being tied at nine before the visitors scored four points to take a 13-9 lead. Big Red bounced back to draw even at 14, and the girls in red were able to take the lead as they built a 20-16 advantage forcing Wilson to call a timeout.
Big Red went to win the game by seven points to sweep the match.
"We have not had the year we wanted to have," Wilson said. "We play well at times, but we do not finish. The girls do a good job, but we don't finish. I don't know what team we are going to get at anytime."
Brooke rallied to defeat Big Red, 17-25, 25-19, 25-19, in the first match before defeating Buckeye Local, 25-21, 25-9.
Brooke is scheduled to play rival Weir Monday on the road.
Big Red is slated to open up postseason play against Zanesville Monday at home.
Buckeye Local will open postseason play against the winner of the match between Sandy Valley and Fairless Wednesday at a location to be announced.