Scotties sweep Leopards in non-section play

In a manner of speaking, both Belle Vernon coach Henry Mulholland and Southmoreland coach Michelle Pergar got something they were looking for in Monday’s non section volleyball match at Southmoreland.

The host Scotties won the match 3-0, but were challenged by the Leopards as the match progressed.

Southmoreland (8-2) won by scores of 25-15, 25-18, and 25-22 over Belle Vernon (4-8).

“We knew they were really good,” Mulholland said. “Our whole season is in the next five games, especially Thomas Jefferson, Laurel Highlands and Ringgold. Last year, we came on strong for the fourth spot into the playoffs. I would rather make forced errors to a good team and not unforced errors against a bad team. Southmoreland served well tonight.”

Pergar said she wanted her team to go against the Leopards’ strong middle hitters.

“We want to win everything and have played some tough teams out of section. I didn’t want anything to be easy,” Pergar said.

Southmoreland had several players step up at key moments Pergar said.

“They take turns when someone hits a little rough patch or two, someone else picks things up,” she said.

Southmoreland dominated at times, but Belle Vernon responded for much of the second set and stayed with the Scotties through the third set.

The Scotties jumped out to a 4-0 start in the opening set, led by a pair of kills from Morgan Riddle, a service ace by Ainsley Martin and a kill by Taylor Doppelheuer.

After the first Belle Vernon point, Riley Puckey and Doppelheuer had kills as the lead grew to 8-1.

Taylor McDaniel had a big night for the Leopards and had consecutive kills to pull the Leopards within 8-5.

But Doppelheuer responded with two kills and a block point for a 13-6 advantage.

The Leopards’ Lyla Teets had a kill to slow the hosts’ momentum and moments later, Hailey Lazur’s kill brought Belle Vernon within 18-9.

The Scotties widened the lead to 22-12 before two kills by McDaniel and a kill by Aubrey Brown cut the lead to 22-15.

The Scotties took the final three points, capped by Makayla Etling’s kill to win 25-15.

Mia Roebuck’s block gave Belle Vernon it’s first lead of the night to begin the second set, which was tied three times through the first seven points.

Southmoreland began to pull away on a finish and kill by Zoey Welling, a kill by Etling, and another kill by Welling to lead 13-9.

A Lazur block pulled the Leopards within 13-11 but a service error gave the momentum back to Southmoreland, which ran off three straight points.

McDaniel had a pair of kills for BV, which were answered by kills from Etling and Doppelheuer, and the Scotties closed the match out on a 5-2 run to win 25-16.

The third set was tied four times, but the Leopards saved their best surge for late in the set.

Southmoreland went from a 3-3 tie to a 12-7 lead with kills by Doppelheuer, Etling, and Ava Bradley, offset by kills from Belle Vernon’s Abbey Nichols and Roebuck.

With an 18-12 lead, the Scotties seemed to be in control. But Mc-Daniel’s kill fueled a 6-1 run that tied the set at 19-19.

A service error broke the Leopards’ momentum, as the Scotties went on a 6-3 run led by kills from Doppelheuer and Bradley and a service ace by Ainsley Martin. Lazur had a kill for Belle Vernon during the run.

Southmoreland won out 25-22 with a BV service error putting the game at match point, and another return error ended the match.