The Lakeland volleyball team played host to the Cuyahoga Triceratops today in OCCAC action and the two teams put on a show. This was a back-and-forth affair that anyone could have won that featured outstanding defensive play from both teams as well as strong net play. In the end, the Lakers fell just short falling by a score of 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 12-15). In game 1, Lakeland jumped out to an 11-4 lead before Tri-C battled back to make the score 16-13. After Sydney Park killed a shot to give the Lakers a 17-13 lead, the Lakers would grow their lead with solid defense and strong net play. Leading 23-18, Isabella Schulz hit a kill for a 24-18 lead. Lakeland would then committ a couple of errors allowing the Triceratops to narrow the gap at 24-21.  The final play of the game saw Zoe Babnik make a fantastic dig, Samantha Winter execute a perfect set, and then Sydney Park ending it on a thunderous kill. In game 2, Lakeland would start out slow as Tri-C took a 9-6 lead. Lakeland continued to battle and eventually tied it at 9 on a Taylor Williams-Stevens kill. Cuyahoga would then take a 13-10 lead before the Lakers tied it againat 13; this time on a Samantha Winter ace. Cuyahoga would again take advantage of some Lakeland errors and hit some key kills as they grew their lead again and eventually took game 2. 

In game 3, Tri-C started off with a quick 5-0 lead. The Lakers battled back and eventually tied the game at 10 on an Alyssa Lino block. The teams would continue to battle the rest of the match and had tied scores at 11, 12, 13, 19, 21, and 22 points. The game ended on a close play when a serve was ruled out. Game 4 saw several long rallys with Tri-C taking an early 9-7 lead. The Lakers would tie it at 10 on a Taylor Williams-Stevens kill. The teams would trade points and with the Lakers leading 14-13, Sydney Park would strike a kill for a 15-13 lead. After a very long rally, Tri-C would hit it long for a 16-13 score. Following a Tri-C kill, Park would hit another kill to make the score 17-15. Lino would then score another point on a solid block at the net. After a Tri-C side out, Abby Karasek drilled a kill for a 19-15 Laker advantage. The teams would then trade points and with the score 22-18 in favor of the Lakers, Taylor Williams-Stevens would score a point with a block to make the score 23-18.  Lakeland would then committ a couple of errors allowing Tri-C back into the match at 23-21. Following another long rally, Tri-C hit into the net to put the Lakers on the edge at 24-21. The next play had another long rally. The game ended when Williams-Stevens made a great dig. Winters followed with another perfect set as Park drilled the game ending point to force a game 5.

In game 5, the Lakers jumped out to a 5-2 lead on the strength of 3 Sydney Park kills. After a Tri-C side out, Abby Karasek struck a kill for a 6-3 Laker advantage. Lakeland then had a momentary defensive lapse allowing Tri-C to take a 7-6 lead. Lakeland would then tie it on an Isabella Schulz tip. Zoe Babnik then hit a fantastic serve to put Lakeland up 8-7.  The teams would then trade points before Karasek followed with an ace for a 10-8 Laker lead. The teams would again trade points as the Lakeland held an 11-9 lead. Tri-C would then hit a kill before Lakeland made an error, hit a close ball that was called long, had a block that fell just out of bounds, and committ another error to give Cuyahoga a lead it would not relinquish.

Player of the Game: Samantha Winter Watts comments, "A lot of players played well and many are deserving. Samantha had a really strong game though with her setting, defense, and offensive attempts." 

Coach Watts' Word: "That was a good match. I was pleased with how we really played together the whole match. We worked hard and certainly had our chances. Unfortunately, a couple of breaks didn't go our way and that was it. Both teams played strong defense.  I am just really pleased with our effort - we'll continue to work hard and get better.  We have a pretty good stretch of games on the road now so we will have to really keep working together and stay focused." 

Next Up: On Friday (9/12), the volleyball team will travel to Fremont, OH to face the Terra State Titans in OCCAC action. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm.