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Lady Vandals top Piasa, Greenville

The Vandalia High School volleyball team put last Tuesday’s loss at Carlinville behind them two days later, storming by Piasa, 25-5, 25-15, last Thursday night to get back on the winning side.

“It was huge,” said coach Allison Smith. “We worked really hard yesterday in practice on the little things that have hurt us so far this year.”

Those particulars – such as maintaining effort, moving on defense and serving aggressively – were all displayed during the win against the Lady Birds.

In both sets, senior Haley Wollerman put Vandalia out to a quick lead, serving three aces in six tries in the first set, and serving another in seven tries in the second to give the Lady Vandals leads of 5-1 and 7-1, respectively.

That, Smith said, was a very promising sign.

“She has been struggling the past couple games serving, and she came out and served really well,” Smith said.

In the first set, Vandalia’s lead continued to grow at a steady pace.

Sophomore Megan Godoyo had a pair of aces as she served the Lady Vandals to a 13-2 lead.

Piasa would grab two quick points, but once junior Shelby Foster took over the serve, the game was all but over.

She served nine straight points – including three aces – and by the time her streak was finished, Vandalia led, 23-5.

Wollerman would set junior RaChelle Leiken for a kill, and junior Gabby McNutt served an ace to close out the set.

“You can’t really pick anyone out,” Smith said of the balanced team effort. “Even the kids who don’t play a lot came in and gave us some good stuff.”

After Wollerman’s opening serves in the second set, however, Vandalia’s fast tempo was reduced, and the game was played more to Piasa’s liking.

The Lady Birds tried chipping away at the 7-1 advantage, but never closed the gap by more than four.

Still, the set went back-and-forth at the service line, with no Vandalia player serving more than three times in a row, and no Piasa player serving more than twice.

“The only (bad) thing was that in the second game we started playing down to their tempo,” Smith said, “but that’s the only complaint I have.”

Vandalia did have one strong moment toward the end of the set, as Wollerman set Austyn Krueger once and Sierah Ruffner twice for three straight points and a 23-13 lead. The match would end four points later on a service error.

On Tuesday, the Lady Vandals extended their winning streak to two with their second win of the season against Greenville, topping the Lady Comets, 25-14, 26-14.

Vandalia previously had beaten the Lady Comets at the Altamont Tournament.

On Saturday, Vandalia is hosting an eight-team volleyball tournament, and the schedule of those games is on Page 3B of this week's issue in the scoreboard.

Sept. 13
Set 1: VHS 25, GHS 14
Set 2: VHS 26, GHS 24
Kills: Leiken, 6; Ruffner, 5; Krueger, 3.
Aces: Godoyo, 3; Foster, 1; McNutt, 1; Wollerman, 1.
Blocks: Ruffner, 5; Leiken, 4; Krueger, 1.
Assists: Wollerman, 12.
Record: 6-3 (4-1 SCC)
JV: Vandalia lost, 5-25, 25-22, 23-25

Sept. 8
Set 1: Vandalia 25, Piasa 5
Set 2: Vandalia 25, Piasa 15
Kills: Leiken, 7; Ruffner, 4; Godoyo, 3; Krueger, 2; Shields, 1.
Aces: Wollerman, 5; Foster, 4; Godoyo, 3; McNutt, 1.
Blocks: Leiken, 1.
Assists: Wollerman, 14; Foster, 1; Godoyo, 1; Leiken, 1.
Record: 5-3 (3-1 SCC)
JV: Vandalia won, 25-18, 25-17.
 

Vandalia sophomore Kate Shields spikes around a Piasa player during a 25-5, 25-15 win last Thursday. Shields had one kill in the game.

Vandalia senior Haley Wollerman serves against Piasa last Thursday. She recorded a season-high five service aces during the match.

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