Toronto gets going, sweeps Weir High
Red Knights run undefeated start to the season to 5-0
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Danielle Sutherin and Emma Parello go up to block an attempt from Weir High's Ella Kaufman during Monday's match.
Andrew Grimm HAND ON IT — Weir High's Zoe Spencer gets her hand on a return against Toronto's Addison Dobbs and Kylie Mitchell.
Andrew Grimm HITTING — Toronto's Addison Dobbs goes up to attempt a kill against Weir High.
Andrew Grimm GOING UP — Weir High's Gabby Sprouse attempts to hit against Toronto.
Andrew Grimm SERVING — Toronto's Sydney Vescovi readies to serve against Weir High.
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Danielle Sutherin and Emma Parello go up to block an attempt from Weir High's Ella Kaufman during Monday's match.
Andrew Grimm HAND ON IT — Weir High's Zoe Spencer gets her hand on a return against Toronto's Addison Dobbs and Kylie Mitchell.
Andrew Grimm HITTING — Toronto's Addison Dobbs goes up to attempt a kill against Weir High.
Andrew Grimm GOING UP — Weir High's Gabby Sprouse attempts to hit against Toronto.
Andrew Grimm SERVING — Toronto's Sydney Vescovi readies to serve against Weir High.
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TORONTO -- The Toronto volleyball team wanted to put forth a strong showing against Weir in the team’s home opener.
The first set was back-and-forth, however, the Red Knights took control in the second and third sets on the way to sweeping the Red Riders, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15, Monday night on the new court inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.
“Our serve-receive was off in the first set,” Toronto (5-0) head coach Shannon Bahen said. “It was our first home game, and I think the girls were nervous playing in front of the home crowd. Our back row adjust, got the ball to our setters and we got our offense going like we like to.”
Weir battled in the first set with the Red-and-White coming up with some decisive points down the stretch to secure the victory by three points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
“We played cleaner in the first set,” Weir (1-3) head coach Fran Capaldi said. “We made less mistakes. We had some communication errors. We overcompensate with our mistakes. We have to learn to move on from our mistakes. That is some thing we are not doing very well with.”
After a close first set, the hosts stepped up their game in the final two sets to secure the victory to remain undefeated.
“Sometimes it takes us awhile to get going,” Bahen said. “We are talented. We have potential. Sometimes, it takes us the first set or the first 25 points to get going. We are 5-0. I am proud of the girls. We don’t want to stop here.”
Once the Red Knights got rolling, the visitors from Hancock County had difficulty slowing them down.
Individually for Toronto, Jayna Reeves recorded eight kills, two aces, one assist and seven digs, Addison Dobbs added 12 kills, four aces and eight digs and Kylie Mitchell tallied three kills, four blocks and two aces. Also, Danielle Sutherin delivered 24 assists and one kill, Emma Parello produced four blocks and one kill and Haley Bodnar contributed 18 digs and one ace. Finally, Jaylee Brown finished with five digs.
“We knew she (Dobbs) could hit,” Capaldi said. “She’s a freshman. We didn’t know much about her. She is a great player. She is a great hitter. I thought we did well shutting her done. We got hands on the balls. We slowed her down with our defense. They did not do anything unusual.”
For Weir, Lili Ascensio tallied 16 assists, two digs and one ace, Ella Kaufman collected nine digs, one ace and six kills and Gabby Sprouse produced one assist, two blocks and two kills. Also, Zoey Spencer ended up with five digs and two kills, Zanyah Whitaker contributed three kills and one block and Alivia Macek added nine digs.
“They had a lot of real-nice serves,” Bahen said. “They were on-line. They dove down on the ground. We didn’t handle them well in the first set. Then, we got into a groove with things.”
The Riders had some runs in the last two sets, but it was not enough to turn the tide against the Knights.
“It’s early,” Capaldi said. “We are still trying to figure out a solid lineup that will enable us to have the most success. We are working on our mental toughness. We have to work hard, and we have to be mentally tough. We have to have a lineup that has mental toughness. We have potential. We are looking to hit our stride in the middle of the season.”
Toronto is scheduled to play Conotton Valley tonight on the road. The varsity match is set to start at 7 p.m.
Weir is slated to play Catholic Central tonight on Ron “Fritz” Williams Court inside the Carl Hamill Fieldhouse. The JV match is set to start at 6 p.m.