South Side Rams Hometown Volleyball Broadcast Recap – 09/20/2016

By: Bruce Markey
Tuesday, September 20, 2016 | 11:48 PM

The Lady Rams of South Side started off strong in their big Class 2A Section 2 matchup, but lost to visiting Quaker Valley 3-1 (15-25, 25-17, 25-19, 28-26).

Everything was clicking early for coach Jason Benkowski’s squad in the first game, as South Side quickly jumped to an 8-0 lead. The Lady Rams used some crisp passing and capitalized on Quaker Valley miscues in that opening frame to get the early advantage.

The tides quickly changed in the second game, as the good ball movement that led to a game one victory for South Side vanished. Unforced hitting errors plagued the Lady Rams, and allowed for Quaker Valley to get back into the match.

The momentum stayed with the visitors in game three, as did the efficient passing. Nyla Stowers controlled the middle, registering five of her game-high 16 kills in the third game. Leah Vester (13 kills) also unleashed some monster hits in the game. They used an early 9-0 run to take a 5-5 tie and extend to a 14-5 lead, one which Quaker Valley would not relinquish.

The match of long runs would continue into game four, which felt eerily similar to the first game of the night. A South Side 8-0 run early in the game gave them a 13-3 lead. The passing improved and the swings were there for Amanda Glenn (12 kills) and Sam Wagner (7 kills). But, as Quaker Valley began to chip into that lead, the wheels began to fall off for South Side. Credit to both teams for not giving up, whether it was the Lady Quakers battling back to tie the set at 21-21, or the Lady Rams not throwing in the towel after relinquishing the lead and forcing the game into extra points. A couple of miscues in the extended frame proved costly, however, and South Side would lose the game and the match.

The Lady Rams defense was solid throughout the match, led by sophomore libero Alexis Chiccarello. She, along with back-line mate Rachael Pieto, Glenn, and Madison Beardmore, registered two aces a piece. Elaine Robertson, who played all six positions, led the team with four blocks and had countless digs in the back line with Pieto and Chiccarello.

South Side falls to 1-4 in the section, while Quaker Valley moves to 1-3.

The Lady Rams host #8 Neshannock on Thursday before traveling to Hopewell next Tuesday to wrap up the first half of section play.