Neosho County only unbeaten team; 'Hounds split

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Neosho County is the only unbeaten team after the first day of the Fort Scott Community College Volleyball Tournament at hot, humid Arnold Arena Friday.

The Panthers swept Coffeyville in their first match, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15, then won the last three sets of their dual with the Greyhounds, 18-25, 27-17, 30-28, 25-21.

Fort Scott won its first match of the day, defeating Labette in four sets, 25-16, 25-18, 22-25, 26-24. The Greyhounds face Seminole State, Okla., today at 11 a.m. in the second match of the second day of play. They will also take on Independence in the final match of the tournament at 7 p.m. tonight.

Neosho County faces Labette at 1 p.m. and Seminole State at 5 p.m.

Fort Scott 3, Labette 1.

The Greyhounds were on the court for the first time while Labette was playing its second match of the day, having defeated Independence in four sets in the opening match. But the match was fairly even with Fort Scott seemingly only able to make any headway whenever Uniontown High School graduate Jacy Ermel was serving.

Neither side led the first set by as many as 3 points until Fort Scott went on a 6-point run with Ermel serving to go up 18-12. The sophomore had an ace serve during that run.

Hill, looking for consistent service, put in freshman Terina Harris as a sub near the end of the set with Fort Scott up just 19-16 and she was able to serve it out as the Greyhounds scored the last six points. Harris served and ace that landed in the back left corner to make it 24-16 and Stephanie de Hoyos' kill was blocked out of bounds by Labette for the final point.

The Cardinals, coached by Hill's former assistant Marisa Jordan, scored the first 5 points of the second set. Fort Scott took its first lead at 10-9 following a 4-point run in which Chanute sophomore Dani Rubow had two blocks. Setter Bridget McGuire tipped the ball over the net short to the Labette side for the lead.

An 11-2 run put the 'Hounds up 22-15. Freshman Shelbey Baker recorded 3 kills in a row during the run as she showed that she has the ability to be dominant at the net.

Labette gave Fort Scott the final point of the second set by serving the ball into the net at 24-18.

That put the Greyhounds up 2 sets to none . Fort Scott held a one-point lead three times early in the third set and was up 7-5.

Labette went up 18-14 but Fort Scott fought back and tied the score at 21-21 when the Cardinals erred on a set.

Fort Scott was within 23-22 but committed an error to give serve back to Labette, which ended the set with a kill.

Fort Scott scored the first 3 points of the fourth set but Labette scored 4 in a row to go up 6-5. From that point, the teams played evenly before Fort Scott got on a roll with Ermel serving to go up 16-12.

However, the Cards scored the next 5 to take the lead again. Fort Scott only led the match twice more, once at 21-20 when Rubow put one on the floor.

The Cardinals were serving up 24-22 after a Fort Scott error. But Baker's kill gave serve back to the Greyhounds with Ermel up again.

A Labette error tied the score. An Ermel ace right between two Cardinals at the back line put Fort Scott in front and Baker's 10th kill of the match -- though not played all that well still managed to find the open spot in the floor -- gave the 'Hounds the match.

Ermel led with 12 kills and Rubow also had 10 for Fort Scott. McGuire handed out 31 assists in the first 3 sets. Freshman Kortney Blaufuss took over as setter in the fourth set and had 6 assists.

Rubow had 5 blocks while McGuire had 2. Ermel and de Hoyos each served 2 aces. De Hoyos has 8 digs while Baker had 6.

Neosho County 3, Fort Scott 1.

The Panthers jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set but the Greyhounds came back steadily at first before rolling to the win.

Down 18-13, Fort Scott got the ball back on a Neosho error. Then Baker took serve and never relinquished it as Fort Scott scored 11 consecutive points. The majority of the points came as the Panthers mishandled the ball, unable to deal with the pressure the 'Hounds were suddenly bringing.

The remaining three sets started with the teams trading points back and forth, finding it difficult to get on a roll. That seemed to suit Neosho's style of play.

The Panthers took control of the third set by scoring 6 of 7 points to go up 21-14. The 'Hounds couldn't get closer than 5 points (22-17) after that.

Fort Scott held a 12-10 lead in the third set following two Rubow points on a block and a kill. The 'Hounds led 20-19 but the Panthers scored three in a row to take the lead.

Fort Scott had chances to close out the set with the serve at 25-24, 27-26 and 28-27. However, a Neosho kill and two 'Hound errors gave the Panthers the lead in the match, 2-1.

Neither side scored 3 points in a row in the fourth set until the Greyhounds did it in taking a 12-11 lead following a Payton Hallford kill. But following that, Fort Scott scored consecutive points again just once more.

Neosho had a pair of 3-0 runs that put it up 15-14 and 20-17. The second one was part of a 5-1 run that made it 22-18. From that point, the teams swapped points on side outs.

DeHoyos had 12 kills, 8 digs and 3 aces for Fort Scott. Baker picked up 11 kills and 3 blocks and Ermel finished with 10 kills.

McGuire delivered 35 assists. Rubow also had 3 blocks. Libero Sarah Williams led in digs with 13.