Published: October 07, 2008 11:45 pm            

Eagles go five to thwart Rams

The Somerset girls volleyball team survived a five-game match with host Richland on Tuesday night.

With the victory, the Golden Eagles, who won 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 15-10, put themselves in contention for the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference title, but Somerset (10-1) has to win out in order to claim the crown.

“This was a huge match because we were tied for first with them,” junior Jessica Glover said. “It’s awesome because we came in here last year and they beat us really bad.”

In the decisive Game 5, Richland (9-2), the two-time defending LHAC champs, led early on but after three ties, the final one at 4, Somerset took the lead and never trailed again.

The Rams pulled within one, 10-9, but the Eagles finished the match on a 5-1 run keyed by several Glover serves, including an ace.

“At the end, we talked really well,” Glover said. “We wanted to win this so bad because we know what is at stake and we’ve worked so hard for it.”

In Game 1, Somerset never trailed and led by as much as six, 15-9, before Richland battled back to within a point, 21-20. The Eagles ended the game outscoring the Rams 4-2.

Richland pulled out to a three-point advantage in Game 2, 4-1, but the Eagles clawed their way back into contention. After five ties, the final one at 16, Somerset finished out the game with a 9-7 run.

But the resilient Rams bounced back to win the next two games.

“We fell apart and weren’t talking,” Glover said.

For Somerset, Chelsea Shaulis had 22 kills and Glover finished with 20 while Bethany Buck finished with nine. Emily Foust had 50 assists.

“We actually had new lineup in there,” Somerset coach Ed Rose said. “The coaching staff was really worried. I was super proud of the kids they did a nice job. Richland took us out of our game plan and put some heat on us in Games 3 and 4 and made us struggle. I think it was a great match of two evenly matched teams.”

Richland, which also won LHAC titles in 2002 and 2003, got 14 perfect passes and nine digs from Ashley Devore while Lindsay Roush and Kayla Petrilla each had 10 service points with Roush getting seven kills and Petrilla garnering 35 assists.

Outside hitters Chloe Devett and Lindsay Berkebile combined for 25 kills for the Rams.

“We didn’t play that well when we were at Somerset,” Richland coach Gina Leis-Hockensmith said. “I was glad we played more like the team we are capable of playing (Tuesday). Unfortunately, those first two games were so close and it’s tough to come back from that. Some things go you way and some don’t.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.