Berkeley Springs Volleyball eluded the Yellow Jackets entrapment in the Hive during a Saturday matinee match creating a narrow straight set victory: 25-19, 28-26 and 25-21.
“I was very pleased. The girls really came together as a team and are playing for each other. They are playing as a team. In years past, we played for ourselves and now we are playing for each other,” Berkeley Springs coach Ryan Fincham stated.
“This is a really strong team [MHS]. They are a really good volleyball team and that’s exactly what we saw today. We tried to get blockers up on all the attacks and I think that really helped our defense. We tried to get in their face, so to speak, to rattle them. We have one of the best serve-receive teams, since I have been around and I think they did pretty well.”
The Indians started the match with a 2-nil edge on an attack by Abigail Close and a carrying violation.
Moorefield got the next point on a spike from Raleigh Kuykendall, but the Indians responded with a kill by MaKayla Bowers.
Berkeley Springs sent the next volley out, then Macey Fincham recorded a spike prior to a serve going awry.
The Yellow Jackets hit the net on a serve for a 5-3 score.
Berkeley Springs Ava Slovinsky notched a point, then the ensuing serve landed in the net.
Lexi Vanmeter delivered an ace for the Yellow Jackets, but the next serve hit the net, 7-5.
The Indians collected an 11-5 lead with the help of several errors and a kill by Bailee Diehl.
The Indians served into the net, then an attack by Kuykendall was initially saved by libero Ryleigh Poist, but ended up finding the net.
Moorefield’s Aubrey Kidwell served up two aces to cut the deficit to 11-9.
Berkeley Springs responded with seven straight points for an 18-9 advantage which included kills by Abigail Close, Andrews and Fincham, plus an ace from Diehl.
The Yellow Jackets stopped the run with a kill and ace from CiCi Kump, plus a spike from Annie Barr after a dig by Kidwell, 19-13.
Kuykendall slammed the ball and served two aces for a 20-16 score.
The Indians took a 24-17 lead on kills from Bowers and Maddie Close.
Moorefield earned two more points on a spike and ace by Vanmeter before an error finished the set, 25-19.
The Yellow Jackets started the second set with a spike by Kuykendall and an error.
Moorefield kept the floor clear with digs by Kidwell and Emmy Crites, but the Indians eventually found the floor on a volley by Andrews.
After a service error, Moorefield’s Liddy Keplinger notched a point on a serve redirected to the ceiling.
The Indians took a 4-3 lead on errors, before committing one of their own for a tie.
Vanmeter and Kump collected points on attacks prior to an ace by Kuykendall for a 7-4 edge.
After carrying violation, Berkeley Springs responded to take an 8-7 lead on points by Poist and Maddie Close.
The second set was locked up a couple more times, then Berkeley Springs got separation with a 17-11 lead which included points by Abigail Close, Fincham and Diehl, plus an ace from Maddie Close.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed back to commandeer 24-19 advantage, starting with Kuykendall sandwiching spikes around a block.
Moorefield’s Annie Barr gained a service point on a return out and landed an ace.
Vanmeter added a kill during the rally making it 18-16.
A volley from Kuykendall ricocheted into the ceiling, then served up an ace and Brenna See’s attack tied the set at 19-1ll.
The Yellow Jackets kept the momentum going as a serve by Kuykendall couldn’t be corralled and attacks by Vanmeter failed to be returned.
A serve from Kuykendall was sent back into the net for a 24-19 lead, but the Yellow Jackets failed to collect that final point.
Vanmeter kicked the ball and play still continued as Kuykendall made a dig, then an attack went awry.
See saved a serve, but Moorefield couldn’t return the ball.
Kump saved a volley, but the Yellow Jackets hit the net.
Berkeley Springs tied the set at 24-all as Diehl made a kill and block.
See and Kidwell made digs for Moorefield, then the Indians got a point on a launch by Diehl.
A double hit violation tied the et and See served for the Yellow Jackets.
Diehl made a dink to regain the Indians edge, then the ensuing serve hit the net.
Diehl and Fincham got the final points for Berkeley Springs to claim the second set 28-26.
Moorefield began the third set with a spike by Barr, then Kuykendall blocked a shot and it was met with a dig by Poist before Abigail Close pushed a point through another block attempt.
Close blocked a shot, but it was saved by See and returned by Kuykendall.
The Indians took a 5-3 lead on an ace from Close, but the ensuing serve hit the net.
Andrews got a point as the ball landed on the back line, then a volley from Vanmeter couldn’t be corralled.
See’s serve was returned out of play to tie the set at 6-all.
Diehl blocked two volleys around an attack by Slovinsky as the Indians went up 9-6.
After a service error, Barr’s attack was returned out.
Moorefield’s Aryana Hinz made a save, but the next shot by Abigail Close found the floor.
Andrews landed an ace and another volley by Close careened to the ceiling for a 13-8 lead.
Barr and Kuykendall notched some kills to close the gap to 15-12.
Berkeley Springs got some help on errors and two aces from Maddie Close to build a 19-12 score.
See spiked the ball and Vanmeter made a block as the Yellow Jackets refused to back down.
A kill by Vanmeter was followed by an attack from Kuykendall which was met with a kick by Close making it 20-16.
Poist made a kill, then served the ball awry.
Vanmeter smashed the ball and delivered an ace as the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 22-19.
However, the next serve sailed out.
Crites saved an errant volley, then Barr garnered a spike.
Berkeley Springs closed out the third set with kills by Abigail Close sandwiching a spike by Kuykendall for a 25-21 score and 3-nil match victory.
