Van Wert, St. Marys volleyball teams survive first round

VAN WERT - Van Wert's game plan is to control the ball.

The Cougars did just that as they defeated Elida 3-1 to win its Division II sectional volleyball match at Van Wert on Tuesday.

However, Elida (8-15) was the one controlling the ball in the first game as it defeated the Cougars in a back-and-forth game. But Van Wert came back to win 27-29, 25-15, 25-19, 27-25.

Van Wert coach Jenny Ainsworth said it took awhile before her team began to execute its game plan.

"We just have to be able to execute the ball," Ainsworth said. "If we take care of the ball, we're going to play well.

"In the first game, we did not take very good care of it. (But) our hitters were able to find a way to put the ball on the floor."

Senior middle-hitter Madison Moonshower was one of those hitters that Ainsworth pointed to. Moonshower had 12 kills and seven blocks.

"Madison has been doing a very nice job of learning new sets," Ainsworth said. "She has very good arm swing. She really gets on top of the ball."

Kelsey Meeks led Elida with 15 kills.

With the win, Van Wert (14-9) will face Shawnee at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in a sectional final. In their regular-season meeting, Shawnee defeated Van Wert in three games.

"That was a unique setting," Ainsworth said. "It was Senior Night ... at their place. I look for us to respond a lot better this time."

St. Marys 3, Wapakoneta 1

In the first match of the Division II sectional at Van Wert, St. Marys (6-16) advanced with a 25-17, 19-25, 25-17, 25-23 win over Wapakoneta (2-18).

Freshman Jenny Brown led the Roughriders with 10 kills and five blocks.

St. Marys will meet Celina on Saturday for a sectional final. The match is slated for 1 p.m.

St. Marys coach Tricia Naseman said her team did a nice job of overcoming some adversity. The Roughriders were without the services of middle-hitter Erika Thornsberry and outside-hitter Bailey Smith, due to injuries.

"Thornsberry is a very good hitter and Smith is one of the best defensive players in the league," Naseman said. "Without them, we really needed to have somebody step up tonight. They did a nice job.

"I also thought we served well. I knew we had to serve well in order to keep them off-balanced. We had several aces tonight."