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Formation change propels Lady Vandals

VANDALIA – Switching to a 6-2 formation was the winning trick for the Lady Vandals in Tuesday's home opener.

Especially for the hitters.

Kadi Metzger swung with more confidence, Ally Sasse had a team-high seven kills and freshman Katie Tarkington made a big impact in a 25-12, 25-22 win against Staunton.

By utilizing two setters in seniors Jessica Sullens and Madison Click, the Lady Vandals substituted more often than usual, leaving their big hitters with more rest in the South Central Conference opener, and coach Allison Hall said the formation may be here to stay.

“Switching to the 6-2 helped,” Hall said. “It puts three hitters across the front.

“We’ll stick with it for now,” she said. “We may adjust it a little bit.”

Metzger seemed to be the biggest beneficiary of the switch.

Though her three kills were fewer than the seven she had in the three-set season-opening loss at St. Elmo/Brownstown, she attacked the ball with more authority in her limited attempts, killing off half of her attacks.

“She wasn’t as tired,” Hall said. “Putting Madison in the back row for her helped.”

Click again paced Vandalia from the service line, sending across three aces during a 7-0 run that gave the Lady Vandals an early 10-4 in the first set.

Sasse had five of Vandalia’s 13 kills in the first set, as the team looked to make a statement.

“We really started out well, and that’s something we really talked about in practice,” Hall said. “I told them that they have the opportunity to win every ballgame if they play how they know how to play.”

Staunton never threatened following Vandalia’s run, and the Lady Vandals (1-1, 1-0 SCC) ended the set with a block sandwiched between two kills to take the momentum into the second set.

After the first few points, however, it wouldn’t stick.

An ace by senior Jessica Booker gave Vandalia 3-1 lead, but the Lady Bulldogs would keep the set within a point before breaking a 10-10 tie with a 5-0 run that left Vandalia scrambling to avoid a repeat of the season-opener.

In that game, SEB used a big run in the second set to take a 20-11 lead and force a decisive third set.

There was no big run for the Lady Vandals, but consistent play allowed them to chip away at Staunton’s lead to tie the set at 17.

The set would be tied three more times before a kill by senior Johanna Walton and Sullens’ only ace of the match for the final two points propelled Vandalia to victory.

Metzger and Walton took over as primary attackers in the second set, with Metzger recording all three of her kills, and Walton putting down four of her six.

Tarkington added three kills in the match.

Sullens had nine assists to lead the team, and Click added a career-high seven. Walton led the team with 1½ blocks.

Vandalia continues in the conference season on Thursday at Roxana and travels to the Altamont Tournament on Saturday. The next home game is next Tuesday against Carlinville.

Tuesday, Sept. 2
Vandalia 25, Staunton 12
Vandalia 25, Staunton 22
Kills: Sasse, 7; Walton, 6; Metzger, 3; Tarkington, 3; Madison Klanke, 2; Sullens, 2.
Aces: Click, 3; Booker, 1; Gracie Morrison, 1; Sasse, 1; Sullens, 1.
Assists: Sullens, 9; Click, 7; Metzger, 2; Sasse, 2.
Blocks: Walton, 1½; Sasse, ½.
Record: 1-1 (1-0 SCC)

Vandalia freshman Katie Tarkington make a pass during Tuesday’s home-opening win against Staunton.

Vandalia senior Johanna Walton attacks the ball on Tuesday during Vandalia’s home-opening win. Staunton would commit a blocking error on the play to give Walton one of her six kills.

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