Reardan volleyball team extends win streak

REARDAN – After losing their first match of the season, the Screaming Eagles have reeled off seven straight wins to remain undefeated in 2B district play. Enthusiasm and hustle were the difference makers in their 3-1 win over Newport on Thursday, Sept. 26.

In the first set, the teams traded points and were tied at eight apiece until front-row sophomores Kaylynn Clouse and Emersen Sprecher took control of the net. Reardan outscored the Grizzlies 17-8 down the stretch to win 25-16.

In the second set, Newport jumped out to a 6-1 lead, which they extended to 11-5. After going on a 5-0 run, Reardan clawed back to knot the game at 13. The Screaming Eagles closed out the set by outscoring Newport 12-5 enroute to their 25-18 win.

The Grizzlies avoided a shutout by winning the third set 25-22.

Reenergized by its win, Newport played aggressively in the fourth set. The game was tied 8-8 before Reardan pulled away, winning 25-16.

Sophomore Lillie Whitman set the tone for her team's gritty play. In the third set she hurdled Reardan's bench, somersaulted and landed on her back. Sophomore Olivia Wicks, and junior Kelsey Koch also earned floor while chasing loose balls.

Whitman's all around play resulted in 25 assists, four serving aces and four kills. Sprecher and Clouse recorded 11 and eight kills, respectively. Koch served four aces, led the team with 17 digs and had five kills. Sophomores Raegan Soliday and Marrin Landreth contributed to the win with four and three kills, respectively.

"I think we played well as a team except in the third set when we kind of got in our heads and played more as individuals" Clouse said. "As a team we need to work on staying hype and not playing down to the level of the team we are playing."

Clouse reserved special praise for Whitman.

"Lillie did a great job. I mean she dove over chairs to get a ball," she said.

Reardan head coach Elise McCammonds was pleased with her team's hustle but hopes they can minimize mental errors the rest of the season.

"I was pleased with our comeback in the second set," she said. "I'm proud of my team for putting their hearts and bodies on the court. I've never seen girls jump over benches before and both Lillie and Kelsey did it tonight."

"Mentally we can't get down," McCammonds said. "When things get hard you have to have the heart to come back."

With the win, Reardan improved to 7-1. The loss dropped Newport to 1-7.