STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red volleyball team was able to salvage a split at a tri match Saturday afternoon,

After falling to Beaver Local in the opener, Big Red bounced back to defeat local rival Weir, 25-23, 25-16, inside the Crimson Center.

The Beavers swept both of their matches, while the Red Riders were swept in both of theirs.

“I thought we played pretty well in the first game,” Big Red (5-5) head coach Logan Colabella said. “I was happy with how we played against Beaver Local. Beaver Local is a tough team. I was proud of the way we played. We just have to be more consistent. We adjusted a lot in the second game against Weir. I am really proud of the girls.”

Beaver Local defeated Big Red, 25-21, 25-16, and the Beavers defeated the Red Riders, 25-21, 25-8.

The girls from Hancock County had a chance to win the first game against Big Red, however, they were unable to make the plays down the stretch enabling the girls from Jefferson County to win the game by two and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

“We can’t keep our heads in the game,” Weir (2-7-1) head coach Fran Capaldi said. “When we make a mistake or the other team is up, our energy is off. We don’t know how to fight back and win a game.”

Big Red took control in the second game. Weir made a little surge late in Game 2, but Big Red settled down following a timeout and the visitors scored the final couple of points to win the game and the match.

“Weir has a great coach,” Colabella said. “They played really well.”

The Red Riders knew what to expect from the hosts.

“I expected them to do the same things,” Capaldi said. “They didn’t do anything different. They have a consistent gameplan. They have some new players. They have young girls who played on the JV team. They have strong blockers, and they are aggressive. They played better us. They made less mistakes than we did. We did not capitalize on our chances.”

For Weir, Amalia Kirlangitis tallied one ace, two kills, seven assists and five digs, Ella Kaufman finished with four aces, two kills and 16 digs and Illionna Kirlangitis collected two aces, six kills and four digs. Also, Zoey Spencer produced nine kills and one dig, Gabby Sprouse delivered two kills and one block and Kaylee Webster ended up with 15 digs. Finally, Abby Szczerbinski added one dig.

The visitors from Columbiana County rallied to win Game 1 against the Red and Black before winning the second game by nine to sweep the match.

“Sometimes when you play, you make mistakes,” Colabella said. “I think if we did not give up the lead in the first set, the second set would have been different.”

Beaver Local and Weir battled it out and Game 1 with the Beavers coming out on top, and the Red and White kept the momentum throughout the second game on their way to the sweep.

“We played pretty well in the first set,” Capaldi said. “I felt we competed. It was a close game. If we would have held the lead in the first one, the second one would have been different.”

For the Red Riders, Amalia Kirlangitis contributed seven assists, one dig and two assisted blocks, Kaufman chipped in with six kills and 10 digs and Illionna Kirlangitis recorded one ace, three kills, four digs and an assisted block. Also, Webster recorded one ace, one assist and nine digs, Makenna Potock ended up with one kill, one dig and one assisted block and Spencer netted six digs and one assisted block. Finally, Szczerbinski finished with one dig.

Weir is scheduled to play Linsly Monday at home on Ron “Fritz” Williams Court. The JV match will start at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity match afterward.

Big Red is slated to play Indian Creek Tuesday at home. The JV match is set to start at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity match to follow. Big Red defeated the Redskins in four games Aug. 26 on the road on Coach D Court.

Beaver Local will play Brooke Tuesday at home. The JV match is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The varsity match will take place following the conclusion of that match.