MORGANTOWN — In a battle of two volleyball powers in the state, the Morgantown High volleyball team (11-4-1) hosted John Marshall in their annual volley-a-thon fundraiser. MHS took home its 11th win of the season in a clean sweep of JMHS 3-0 (33-31, 25-19, 25-14).
To open the match, the visitors were the ones to jump out to an early lead, using some strong defense to take a 3-point advantage of 8-5. MHS managed to secure a few points but the Monarchs didn’t allow their opponents to seize the momentum and held on 11-9 in the first set.
However, the Mohigans would then come alive and take seven of the next nine points, giving them a 3-point lead of their own, and forcing JMHS to call its first timeout.
It seemed to work for the Monarchs, though, as they came out strong from the discussion and rallied for nine points, while only allowing MHS to earn four, and snatching the lead back at 22-20. This time it would be the Mohigans to call a timeout.
With a crucial first set coming down to the wire, MHS head coach Erica Manor-Sphar knows the mental game is just as important as the physical game. Just one of the few things she reminds her team of when playing from behind.
“It was back and forth, and I told the kids it is a mental game down the stretch and that it’s something I told them before they pulled the first set out,” she said.
Whatever she told her players helped, as the Mohigans tied the game at 22 out of the timeout, taking control of the game once again.
Multiple points then go back and forth to each team, with both denying the other the set point as the score was tied at 25. The team to go up by two first would win the first set and take some huge momentum into the second.
Eventually, at 31-31, and with MHS serving, two straight points came for the hosts and gave them a 1-0 lead in the match, after a very hard-fought first set by both teams.
It was no question that the opening set win they were able to pull off gave the Mohigans much-needed momentum to carry through the rest of the match as MHS won the second and third sets, as well. MHS earned its 11th win of the year, beating a very strong team in JMHS.
“So we changed up personnel tonight a little bit and our players reacted really well and came out and took care of business,” Manor-Sphar said. “I’m pleased with how they played. Our serving was really good and we did well offensively and defensively. Collectively across the board, I give them a 10 out of 10.”
Belle DeVall led the Mohigans with 43 assists, while Kaitlyn Anderson contributed 27 kills. Grace DeVall contributed 32 digs from the libero position for MHS.
MHS will travel to Charleston on Thursday for a match with George Washington.
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