JOHNSTOWN – It wasn't pretty, but the Lady Raiders defeated the Lady Huskies of the Word of Life Bible Institute in a non-conference match on Monday evening. The FM Six shut out the visitors in three sets, with scores of 25-13, 26-24, and 25-12.
The win raised FM's season record to 15-2.
Photo: Ayasia Hopkins kills the ball – other Raiders, from left, are Elizabeth Hayward, Zara Hyde, Karissa Morey, and Kaylee Robinson
The FM squad got off to an uneven start in the first set and found themselves trailing 7-6. An ace by Karissa Morey gave the home team a two-point lead at 9-7, and the Lady Raiders built on that lead. Kaylee Gillen served to start the final five plays. FM won them all and won the set 25-13.
The second set did not go as well for the home side. The Lady Huskies from Word of Life played a scrappy game, caught the Raiders at 20-20, and moved ahead. The visitors served for set point at 24-22, but kills by Katlyn Pierce and Whitney Ostrander knotted the set at 24-24. FM won it 26-24.
A kill by Liz Hayward and an ace by Ostrander got FM off to a 6-4 start in the final set. The Raiders did not trail again and won the set. They gained the final point on a left-handed kill by Ostrander. The score was 25-12.
Photo: Liz Hayward attacks, Whitney Ostrander reacts
FM will return to action on Wednesday when they are to travel to Herkimer for a Mountain Valley Conference match with the Generals. The Raiders will make the one-hour trip to Herkimer again on Saturday for pod play. The highlight of that day will be the Raiders' mid-afternoon rematch with Adirondack.
The FM vs. Adirondack match will not be considered a conference match, but both squads will want to win it in order to sharpen their readiness for the upcoming conference and regional tournaments. FM has only been defeated twice this season. Their first loss was to Adirondack in FM's season opener. Their other loss was to Monroe CC. Monroe is currently ranked #1 and Adirondack is #2 in the Region 3 weekly coaches poll.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo below: Katlyn Pierce delivers a kill
[Ed. Update, Oct. 14, 1:20 p.m. The results of the weekly Region 3 coaches poll were announced today. The Lady Raiders are still ranked #3 among the 18 teams in the region. Monroe CC is ranked #1, followed by Adirondack, Fulton-Montgomery, Jamestown, and Niagara.]
Stat Highlights: Ostrander – 8 kills, 4 blocks, 5 aces; Gillen – 7 digs, 2 kills, 1 ace; Morey – 6 aces, 3 digs, 3 kills; Hayward – 3 kills, 1 ace, 2 digs; Pierce – 1 ace, 2 digs, 8 kills, 3 blocks; Hopkins – 2 kills; Robinson – 1 kill, 1 dig, 2 aces; Hyde – 3 aces, 2 digs, 20 assists, 1 kill
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