vikingssportsn Hopewell, PA – Hopewell’s Junior Varsity Volleyball Team (6-4) put together one of its more complete performances of the season Thursday night, controlling Mohawk from the start in a 25-12, 25-8 straight-set victory, their 4th straight win.
The Vikings jumped in front immediately in the opening set behind an Ava Ray ace and never surrendered the lead. Abby Babinsack provided an early spark at the net with a kill, tip and ace, with Bella Cipolla and Ray providing the defense, while Alyssa Phillips and Lillian Otto helped Hopewell steadily build its advantage on offense.
Otto delivered three early kills, including one off a Brooke Otto set and another following a nice pass from Liliana Katcher, before adding an ace to push Hopewell ahead 11-6. Phillips added a down-ball kill and Babinsack followed with a kill and block as the Vikings stretched the lead to 16-8.
Hopewell continued to pull away from there. Katcher added an ace, Brooke Otto found the floor with a tip and the Vikings reached set point at 24-12. Katcher then provided the pass, Brooke Otto the set and Lillian Otto the finish as Hopewell closed out the opening set, 25-12.
The second set was even more decisive.
Hopewell raced out to a 9-0 advantage behind strong passing from Gianna Rossi and a balanced attack at the net. Phillips, Babinsack and Lillian Otto all contributed kills during the opening run, while Katcher added an ace. The Vikings continued to get contributions throughout the lineup as Sophia Catanzarite delivered a kill and another strong swing, Ellie McCoy added a pair of points at the net and Kelsey Homick helped start a rally that ended with McCoy putting away a kill. Brooke Otto added an ace before Ray came on late with back-to-back kills.
Hopewell’s passing helped keep the offense in rhythm throughout the second set, with Rossi, Katcher and Lily Cain all contributing defensively as the Vikings were able to attack from several spots on the floor. Phillips put away one final kill following a long rally to get Hopewell to match point
before the Vikings finished off the 25-8 win and the straight-set sweep.
After having to battle through several tight matches early in the season, Hopewell left little doubt in this one. The Vikings controlled both sets, spread the offense throughout the lineup and turned consistent passing into one of their most complete team efforts of the season. They’re hitting their stride at nice point of the season.
Here’s a play-by-play recap:
Set #1
1-0 Ava Ray gets Hopewell on the board first with an ace
2-0 Abby Babinsack with a hit off the Brooke Otto set for a point
3-2 Alyssa Phillips with a nice kill from the outside
4-2 Babinsack places a tip shot on the line. Ray with a nice pass leading to it
5-4 Lillian Otto with a kill off the set from Otto. Bella Cipolla with a nice pass.
6-4 Babinsack with an ace
8-4 Lillian Otto with a nice shot for another kill
9-5 Otto with another kill. Nice pass from Liliana Katcher.
11-6 Lillian Otto with an ace
13-8 Phillips with a down ball to the middle for a kill
14-8 Babinsack with a kill that just catches the left side
16-8 Babinsack with a block at the net
17-9 Phillips with a big swing off the Otto set for a kill
18-9 Katcher with an ace that just cries over the net
20-10 Otto and Otto tip-toe the line at the net on a play, forcing the Mohawk error.
21-10 Brooke Otto with a great tip at the net
23-13 Brooke Otto with a serve causing the Mohawk error.
24-12 Mohawk with an error getting Hopewell to set point.
25-12 Katcher with the pass, Otto with the set and Otto with the kill.
Set #2
1-0 Gianna Rossi with a nice pass that finds its way to Phillips for a kill.
3-0 Babinsack with a kill off. Katcher on the serve
4-0 Lillian Otto with a great free ball that fools Mohawk.
5-0 Rossi with another pass to Brooke Otto, setting Lillian Otto for the kill
6-0 Another great pass from Rossi
8-0 Babinsack with a big swing off the backset from Otto
9-0 Katcher with an ace
10-1 Rossi one hands a pass that Sophia Catanzarite finishes off with strong kill
11-1 Sophia with another hit forcing the Mohawk error
12-1 Katcher with a freeball from deep forcing an error
13-1 Ellie McCoy with a hit forcing the error.
14-1 Otto sets Babinsack in the backrow for a kill
15-1 Babinsack with an ace
16-2 A nice rally. Kelsey Homick with the pass to Otto who feeds McCoy for a kill
18-2 Brooke Otto with an ace
21-4 Lillian Otto on the serve, forcing the error.
22-4 Lily Cain with the pass ending with a big hit from Ray for a kill
23-5 Ray with another kill on a down ball
24-5 Another nice rally. Katcher with several passes. Phillips with the kill.
25-8 Hopewell finishes off Set #2 for a dominant win.
