The Hilltoppers won a tight 25-21, 25-21 match versus the Raiders of SPF yesterday notching their first win versus this squad in 6 years on both levels.
Summit could not have asked for a more trying start to the match as the squad lost team kill leader Georgia Inggs to a broken hand in rotation 6 forcing Sylvie Goudreau into her first regular season action of the campaign under extremely stressful conditions.
The loss of Inggs was immediately felt as the team could not generate the consistent offense it was accustomed to in the prior 3 matches. Summit managed only 6 kills and hit for only .100 in the set led by Captain Taylor Thompson's 3 kills. But SHS relied on their serving to make up the difference offensively as the Maroon and White pounded out 7 aces led again by Thompson who hit for 4. The team also added 2 blocks as Lauren Trindell paired up with Thompson and Carmel Barsh to lead the way defensively. But the key to the set was the outstanding passing on serve receive by 9th grade Libero Ava Williamson (8 receptions for a 2.50 rating) and Thompson (7 receptions for a 2.42 rating) who kept the team calm during the stress of the Inggs loss.
The set turned on a key dig by Tessa Pulgar that led to a Williamson kill which was followed by a key kill by Alisha McDonnell on a setter dump that put Summit up by 3 at 18-15, a lead they would not relinquish as they closed out the set 25-21.
Set 2 started off horribly for the Hilltoppers as 2 missed serves and 2 hitting errors had the team down 7-1 to Scotch Plains. Taylor Thompson got the team closer within her service rotation hitting for an ace and forcing the Raiders into free ball attempts or errors on offense that had Summit only down 3 (5-8) by the end of her serve. The passing was again key for the Hilltoppers as 12 of the 20 passes went to Williamson (2.60 rating) and Thompson (2.00 rating) who helped McDonnell distribute the offensive responsibility throughout the entire lineup (6 players combined for 10 kills). The squad was again only able to hit for a .120 efficiency but added 2 aces and 2 solo blocks (Goudreau and Barsh) to score 14 points in the set.
Summit tied the set at 8, trailed 14-11 and tied it thanks to McDonnell's serving just to see SPF get the lead back and actually take the lead at 21-19 later in the set. A Goudreau kill and 2 Raider errors had Summit up by 1 at 22-21 in a matter of minutes and the team came off a predictable SPF timeout to hit for a Camille Della Piazza ace that broke the Raider spirit and gave the squad a 23-21 lead. A Kate McPherson kill pushed the lead to 24-21 and a Raider error closed out the set and match 25-21.
HIGHLIGHTS: (posted soon)
The team will look to improve to 3W-2L today at New Providence.
JV ROLLS TO 4TH WIN AGAINST TOUGHEST OPPONENT TO DATE
JV rolled to a 2-0 win versus SPF whom the program had not beaten in 6 years. The team relied on its serving (11 aces) and offense (11 kills) to subdue the Raiders. Meghan Tarashuk was key in the deciding set, nailing 3 aces on a run that put the team up for good and adding 4 digs on key points to keep the Raider offense at bay. Annabella Yorio was also a tone setter in set 1 as her 3 kills and 0 errors in 6 swings led the Hilltopper offense to the victory.
The team will attempt to improve to 5W-0L today at New Providence.
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