EATON — The Eaton Eagles Volleyball team saw its 10 match winning streak come to an end when the team hosted state ranked Bishop Fenwick on Monday, Oct. 5.
Fenwick defeated the Eagles in five sets as the teams battled until the last point of the contest. Fenwick took the first set 25-17 while the Eagles leveled the match after a 25-18 victory in the second set.
Fenwick regained the lead after a 25-15 victory in set three, but the Eagles quickly leveled the match with a 25-22 win in the fourth set.
Fenwick was able to gain a narrow victory in the fifth and final set with a 15-12 victory.
“We showed that we can play with anyone in the area,” head coach Parker Fields said. “We are contenders at any level we play. I was most impressed with our ability to stay mentally tough when in a big time match.”
Fenwick was awarded the top seed of the Division II Brookville sectional while the Eagles were awarded the three seed in the tournament.
The Eagles did manage to pick up two wins last week as they got back on track when they traveled to Ross on Tuesday, Oct. 6
Eaton won 26-24, 25-20 and 25-23. Julia Titus had 10 kills; Emma McKinney added 33 assists and Jackie McCafferty had 16 digs. Meghan Puckett also added three blocks.
The team also defeated Valley View on the road on Thursday, Oct. 8, by scores of 25-10, 25-15 and 25-21.
Titus had 10 kills, McKinney had 23 assists and Brandi Sittloh had nine digs.
Fields noted how the final two weeks are great preparation for the upcoming tournament,
In the last two weeks, the team has already taken on one of the top teams in the state in Fenwick, they played at Division I Talawanda on Monday, Oct. 12, and face league leaders Bellbrook on Thursday, Oct. 15, for the SWBL title. (Results of Monday’s match were unavailable at press time.)
Fields said of the upcoming showdown with Bellbrook: “Last year when we went there to play for a league title, we weren’t used to being in that position,” he said. He is hoping the experience gained by his team’s tough schedule has helped. “This year we are experienced and are getting used to playing in big matches, I think the kids are hungry for this payback match.”
Fields’ team is focused on the SWBL but the coach was also happy with the team’s tournament draw. They play Wilmington at Brookville on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the opening round. They will play the winner of the four-seed Alter and Ross if they advance against Wilmington.
A third match with Bellbrook will loom in the sectional final if the top seeds win all matches, as the two SWBL powers have a chance to meet for a third time this season.
“This season has been a great ride, but we still have goals of winning the league, and making a good run in the tournament,” said Fields, who believes his team is ready for the tournament and to claim an SWBL title. “That has to do a lot with our senior leadership, and the fact that they have played for each other and not individually. They have worked really hard every day to get better, and that has shown coming down the stretch.”
The Eagles will also have senior night on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when they host Franklin.
