The Washington Lady Blue Lion volleyball team drew a home match in the Sectional tournament against the Lady Falcons of Fairfield Union High School Wednesday night.
The match went the maximum of five sets, with Washington advancing with a 3-2 victory.
Fairfield Union came out playing really well, taking a 16-5 lead on the way to winning the first set, 25-15.
The Lady Lions regrouped and tied the match by taking the second set, 25-21.
Washington put themselves in a position to win the match in four sets as they took the third, 25-22.
However, Fairfield Union, with their backs to the wall, prevailed in the fourth set, 25-22.
The Lady Lions claimed the match win by taking the fifth and deciding set, 15-12.
Washington will next play at Logan Elm Saturday at 4 p.m. Logan Elm defeated Hillsboro Wednesday, 3-0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-5).
“We knew they were a strong team,” Washington head coach Ashley DeAtley said. “We went to see them last week when we had some time off. We knew they were very strong passing and they have some really aggressive hitters. Their blocking was also phenomenal. I knew we were going to have a lot of pressure on that with our hitters.
“We have just been practicing hitting around our block,” DeAtley said. “I thought my girls did a very nice job of adjusting to that bigger block that we don’t see as much. And we did a nice job of serving tonight, which, we’ve struggled with that. We didn’t miss as many serves and that was big for us. I’m really proud of the girls for that.
“I’m also proud of the girls because, we could have hung our heads after that first set,” DeAtley said. “We came back with fire. My senior leaders did a nice job; Trinity Ragland, Faith Kobel and Delaney Greer really did a nice job of stepping up and saying, you know what, we’re not ready to go out yet.”
Statistically for Washington, in serving, Delaney Greer led with four aces; Hannah Haithcock had three aces. Haithcock served 18 times with only one service error, DeAtley noted. “She was really strong tonight.”
In attacks, Greer had 11 kills; Haithock had nine and Faith Kobel with eight.
In blocks, Haithcock had seven block assists and Kobel had five solo blocks and five block assists.
“Those girls did a nice job up there,” DeAtley said.
Greer had 13 digs, Haithcock had 12 digs and Halli Wall and Tabby Woods each had 10.
“All around, it looks like we did a really nice job on defense, getting the ball up off the floor,” DeAtley said. “We haven’t seen that too consistently this season, so, I’m glad we stepped up, defensively.”
Washington improves to 12-9 overall on the season.
Elsewhere in Division II volleyball tournament action Wednesday, Miami Trace lost to Circleville, 3-0 (25-13, 25-11 and 25-11); Warren defeated Jackson, 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-16); Athens beat Waverly, 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-21); Unioto topped River Valley, 3-0 (25-8, 25-22, 25-9) and Gallia Academy beat Vinton County, 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-16).
In Division I volleyball Tuesday, Chillicothe defeated Teays Valley, 3-2 (22-25, 17-25, 25-11, 25-23, 15-9).
