Trojans and Hawks in tie for top spot
By George Starks |
ARCANUM- The Arcanum Lady Trojans and the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks went head to head Tuesday and both teams came out swinging.
The Hawks came in at the top of the Western Ohio Athletic Conference while the Trojans were solid in second place, one match behind the Hawks.
After dropping the opening set 25-19 to the Hawks, Arcanum came back strong with three straight set victories, 25-16, 25-8 and 25-14.
“It was a little disheartening when we lost that first set,” said Arcanum coach Jacee Holman. “We had a big lead (17-7) and we let it get away. I told them they can’t just put it in cruise control and expect them to just roll over for us. This is Mississinawa Valley and they came back fighting. That’s a good team and we didn’t keep or foot on the gas and we lost that s et.”
There was never a doubt that her kids took that loss to heart. In the next three sets, the Trojans hit the floor running and never let up.
In all three of the final sets, Arcanum came out hard and fast, with the determination and heart of true champions.
“I’m very proud of the way they came out in the second set and fought,” Holman pointed out. “The third and fourth sets and they never let up. They played Arcanum volleyball and I could not be more proud of them.”
In the conference match against Tri-Village last Thursday, is was the play of Katie Sharp that carried the Trojans through.
Tuesday, it was a total team effort that got the job done.
“Katie did a really nice job in the back row but all my defensive specialists were getting the job done,” Holman said with a smile. “Even my setters were trying to get to every ball and my hitters were hitting with authority. Just a great effort from these kids.”
While players were sacrificing their bodies to make plays on balls, it was the net play that may have made the difference.
“This match was won at the net I’m my opinion,” the Arcanum coach stated. “We have some of the strongest blockers in the conference. I really think we controlled the match at the net tonight. I’m really happy. I wanted my girls to come out and put pressure on them and that’s what they done. They were aggressive on offense and defense and it showed in the end.”
Now in a tie with MV, the Trojans will will travel to Bradford Tuesday while the Blackhawks will host Twin Valley South. Both are key WOAC matches.
The MV junior varsity won in two sets, 25-13, 25-7.
CNO Photos by George Starks
