vikingssportsn New Castle– Hopewell’s Junior Varsity volleyball team earned its first win of the season Tuesday night by sweeping host Mohawk, 25-17, 25-20, moving their season record to 1-2.
The Vikings took control of the opening set behind strong serving and a balanced attack. Abby Baninsack delivered 3 straight aces during an early run, while Lillian Otto, Ellie McCoy and Alyssa Phillips provided kills at the net.
Brooke Otto helped direct the offense from the setter position while also making an impact form the service line. Hopewell’s defense extended several rallies and turned them into points as the Vikings pulled away for a 25-17 win, capped by a Brooke Otto ace.
Mohawk made things tougher in the second set, battling back to tie the score at 14-14.
However, Hopewell responded with a strong closing stretch.
Phillips broke the tie with a well-placed tip before Lilianna Katcher delivered two aces during a key serving run. Ava Ray contributed several defensive plays, Lillian Otto added a late kill and Brooke Otto followed with another ace.
McCoy added a block at the net and Samantha Holsinger served an ace down the stretch as Hopewell closed out the match, 25-20.
The Vikings received contributions throughout the lineup, but their improved defense and aggressive serving proved to be the difference. After showing process through the opening matches of the season, Hopewell put it all together Tuesday night to earn a well-deserved first victory of 2026.
Here the play-by-play log from each set:
1ST SET (HOPEWELL VS. MOHAWK JV)
1-2 Hopewell on the board off a big swing from Abby Babinsack
3-2 Lilianna Katcher with an ace
5-5 Lillian Otto with a kill off the Brooke Otto set. Pass from Katcher
8-5 Babinsack with 3 straight aces
9-5 Ellie McCoy with the kill
11-6 Ava Ray with a nice free ball forcing an error
12-6 Lillian Otto with a kill that just catches the line
13-6 Brooke Otto with an ace
15-8 A great defensive rally from Hopewell eventually leading to the point
16-8 Lillian Otto with the serve that Mohawk returns right into a McCoy kill on the overpass
17-8 Lillian Otto with an ace
19-9 Bella Cipolla with a great pass to Brooke Otto setting up Alyssa Phillips for the kill
20-12 Ray with the pass to Brooke Otto who sets it right back to her for the hit
21-12 Philipps places a ball to the corner forcing a Mohawk error
22-13 Brooke Otto with a slide set to Babinsack for the kill
23-15 Lillian Otto with a kill that ride halfway across the net and drops for a point
25-17 Brooke Otto with an ace to finish Set #1
2ND SETÂ
1-0 Hopewell on the board with a Mohawk net error
2-4 Babinsack with a strong hit to the back row stopping an early run
3-4 Gianna Rossi with a serve returned out
4-4 Lillian Otto with a hit that catches the back line
6-5 Brooke Otto with an ace
7-5 Excellent defensive rally again from Hopewell
8-6 Brooke Otto with a beautiful set to Lillian Otto for the kill
9-6 Lillian Otto with an ace
11-8 Phillips with a kill that flips over the net
12-8 Cipolla with a great serve forcing a Mohawk error
14-14 Mohawk ties up the set
15-15 Phillips places a tip just over the blockers for a point
17-15 Katcher with an ace
18-15 Beautiful rally from Hopewell ending in a point
19-15 Another ace from Katcher, timeout Mohawk
20-16 A great dig from Ray gets over forcing an error
21-18 Lillian Otto with a kill
22-18 Brooke Otto with an ace
23-18 McCoy with a nice stuff at the net for the point
24-18 Sam Holsinger with an ace
25-20 Hopewell wins the set and the match!
