Moorefield Volleyball showed heart and determination in protecting the Hive against Frankfort.
The Yellow Jackets fended off the Falcons’ talons with a five-set tiebreaker victory: 21-25, 25-16, 25-10, 11-25 and 15-9.
Moorefield Volleyball looked fierce in new black and silver uniforms designed by assistant coach Megan Phares.
Frankfort snatched an early 2-0 lead on a service error and kill by Brystal Miner.
Moorefield’s Lexi VanMeter drilled a spike and delivered two aces in building a 5-3 edge.
After serves into the net on both sides, the Yellow Jackets collected an ace by Anniston Kite.
Moorefield’s Jocelyn Wagner and Payton Lytle swung for kills to create a 9-4 lead.
Frankfort crept back and two aces by Marlee Alt cut the deficit to 10-9.
Moorefield’s Aubrey Kidwell and Lytle made back-to-back digs, then Wagner hammered the ball which was returned awry.
Moorefield’s Emmy Crites served a couple points and Annie Barr created a dink point for a 13-9 edge.
Frankfort kept the first set close with the aid of errors and net play from Alice Welsh and Jordan-Marie Owens.
Wagner put Moorefield up 20-18 with an attack not returned.
The Falcons rallied for a 25-21 win with the help of errors and aces from Addison Mervart.
There were seven ties in the second set, before the Yellow Jackets found a better rhythm.
VanMeter was dynamic at the net with blocks and kills to keep the Yellow Jackets buzzing.
Barr contributed several spikes during the onslaught.
Moorefield’s Bella Linville garnered three consecutive aces for a 24-10 advantage.
Frankfort managed to add six points before the Yellow Jackets finally got the set point on a serving error, 25-16.
Moorefield corralled a 14-4 advantage in the third set which included five aces by Lytle and an ace by Kite.
Moorefield’s Brenna See and Annie Barr kept the attacks spinning at the net.
Emmy Crites delivered two aces as the Yellow Jackets took a 17-5 lead.
Lytle, Kite and VanMeter created spikes, while Barr served up an ace for a 23-8 lead.
The Yellow Jackets closed the third set with a kill by Kite for a 25-10 win.
“Our girls brought a lot of energy as always. They kept battling and finished strong. We played as a team and had fun,” Moorefield coach Kellan Snyder said.
The Falcons swooped fast for a 25-11 fourth set win to force the tiebreaker as Moorefield had numerous errors.
Aubrey Kidwell delivered three aces in the decisive fifth set as Moorefield commandeered a 9-3 advantage before timeout was called.
Coming out of the timeout, Wagner smashed a spike.
Frankfort countered with a pair of kills by Alice Welsh.
The Yellow Jackets finished off the tiebreaker set match with a kill and two aces by Lytle for the 15-9, 3-2 win to keep the Hive intact.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game against Moorefield, always. I am just proud of our girls for fighting back and working hard. The intensity was really high and Moorefield has some great servers and that tested our serve-receive skills. We hung with it as best we could,” Frankfort coach Brooke Alkire-Higson commented.
