PREBLE COUNTY — Eaton secured the only win among county volleyball teams in the opening rounds of the sectional tournament, but the Eagles, like the other county teams, bowed out of postseason play before reaching the sectional final.
Eaton, the No. 3 seed in the Division II sectional at Lebanon High School, began tournament play on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with a 25-6, 25-16, 25-4 win over Thurgood Marshall.
The Eagles were led by junior Shay Perry’s 11 kills. Sophomore Carsyn Lammers had 12 assists and senior Maley Tinstman added six. As a team, Eaton had 23 aces. Senior Annika Gels had seven and sophomore Kayleigh Michael had six. Sophomore Kylee Pitsinger, and seniors Becca Mowen and Courtney Giffen added three kills each.
In round two, on Saturday, Oct. 20, Eaton met No. 9 Oakwood, a team the Eagles had beaten twice during the regular season in four sets each time. This time the Jills were up to the challenge and took out Eaton in straight sets 25-12, 25-19, 25-10.
Eaton concludes the season 19-5 and was runner-up in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division with an 8-4 record.
Arrows ousted by WL-S
No. 12 seed Preble Shawnee got off to a good start, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first set, in its first round match against No. 6 West Liberty-Salem on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in the Division III tournament at Brookville High School.
The Arrows couldn’t maintain the momentum as the Tigers roared back to win the match in straight sets 25-13, 25-15, 25-9.
Shawnee wraps up the season 10-13. The Arrows were 6-6 in the SWBL Buckeye Division and finished in a three-way tie for third.
Trail falls to Emmanuel Christian
National Trail came out strong in its opening tournament match against the No. 8 seed Emmanuel Christian on Oct. 16, in the Division IV sectional at Troy.
After winning the first set, the Blazers, the No. 20 seed, eventually fell in four, 21-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-20.
NT was led offensively by Tristan Bowers with 11 kills. Lexi Stiner had 10 kills and three aces. Jaidyn Tout had seven kills. Angel Bowers added five kills, 16 assists and three aces and Brooke Johnson had 13 assists.
Leading the way defensively were Madison Hathaway with 16 digs, Tristan Bowers with 15 digs, Angel Bowers with 14 digs, Johnson had nine digs and Jenna Petitt and Stiner each had eight digs.
“We really believed we could win this match,” Trail coach Joy Yeazel said. “We came out strong, but then let our youth and inexperience take over. EC took us out of our offense and we were struggling with our out of system balls. But, we have a very young team, so watch out for us next year. These young women work hard and I am super proud of each one of them. I/we are going to miss Lexi next year, but the positive is that she is our only senior.”
The Lady Blazers finished 8-15 overall and 3-9 in the Cross County Conference.
North downed by Indians
Tri-County North, which received a first-round bye, took No. 9 seed Mechanicsburg to four sets in the second round of the Troy sectional, before having its season come to an end on Oct. 20.
The No. 14 seed Panthers fell 25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 25-16.
North ends the season 6-16 overall and 3-9 in the CCC.
South swept
In a mild upset, No. 16 seed Twin Valley South lost to No. 18 seed Riverside in straight set in the second round of the Division IV sectional at Covington High School. The match was played on Oct. 20.
South was competitive, but fell 25-20, 25-21, 25-20 to the Pirates.
The Panthers wrapped up their season with a 10-13 record and was 5-7 in the CCC.
