Lady Hornets fall to Wyalusing in District IV title game
By: Ed Weaver | NTL Sports | October 31, 2014
The Wellsboro Varsity Volleyball team fell to Wyalusing in five sets in the District IV Class AA Championship game on Thursday, October 30.
The Lady Rams jumped out to an early 9-3 lead in the first set. Wellsboro battled back to within 16-10 but only got as close as 18-14 as Wyalusing took the first of five sets, 25-18. In the second set the Lady Hornets took the early advantage but Wyalusing would eventually tie the set at 10-10. Wellsboro kept the score close and eventually won 26-24 to tie the match at 1-1.
The third set was all Wyalusing as they quickly took an 8-4 lead and never looked back. The Lady Rams won the third set 25-9 to take a 2-1 lead of the match.
Despite trailing after the third set, head coach Sharon Zuchowki was confident her team could rally back.
"The last time we came to the near side of the court we were down a game. We had regroup in the fourth set so we could make it an even match again."
The Lady Hornets did just that as they rebounded in the fourth set to force the fifth and final set. Wellsboro jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before Wyalusing tied it at 5-5. The teams traded points for the remainder of the set until they pulled ahead 25-20 for the win.
"We struggled with serve receiving all night," continued Zuchowski. "I told the girls that they needed to concentrate on getting their serves in and to give us an opportunity to play the ball because when we were serving we had the advantage."
The two teams were even in the fifth set as it was tied at 5-5 before Wyalusing started pulling away. The took control of the fifth set 15-8 to win the match 3-2 and give the Lady Rams their first district title.
Senior Peyton Wilson had 17 points, two aces, and five assists, and Junior Haley Zuchowski had nine points, and an ace, with 20 digs. Junior Darci Warriner had eight points, two aces and 22 digs and Morgan Florio had eight points and an ace with 13 assists. Senior Paige Carr had 25 digs, Senior Danielle Mihalik and Sophomore Kirsten Florio each had six kills and Senior Jordan Butters had three blocks.
"I'm very proud of the girls. Wyalusing is a strong team and we thought it would be hard for one team to beat us three times in a season," Zuchowski concluded. "We just kept plugging and took it down to the wire but you have to give credit to Wyaluing. The played hard and we struggled and couldn't fix our problems."
The loss ends Wellsboro's season at 12-7 (5-5 NTL Division 1).
Ed Weaver is the owner of Circle W Sports in Wellsboro, PA, is the Sports Director for The Home Page Network and the creator of WellsboroAthletics.com and WellsboroFootball.com. You can follow him on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.
