vikingssportsn AVONWORTH- Hopewell’s Junior Varsity squad (4-4) controlled the opening set Tuesday night, then rallied from 10 points down in the second to earn a 25-17, 25-13 victory over Avonworth to even their season record at 4-4.
The Vikings jumped out to a 6-0 lead in Set 1 behind the serving of Ava Ray and a pair of kills from Alyssa Phillips, forcing an early Avonworth timeout. Hopewell maintained the advantage with contributions throughout the lineup. Lillian Otto put away a swing following a strong pass from Liliana Katcher and set from Sam Holsinger, Ellie McCoy scored on a tip and Abby Babinsack made a heads-up play at the net.
Brooke Otto later set Lillian Otto for a kill that caught the back line, while Gianna Rossi, Katcher and Ray helped steady the Vikings with strong passing.
Bella Cipolla’s serving helped Hopewell extend the lead to 20-16, and Brooke Otto connected with Babinsack for a middle kill as the Vikings pulled away. Ray closed the set with an ace for the 25-17 win.
The second set provided a much different challenge.
After Hopewell briefly led 3-2, Avonworth took control and built advantages of 10-5 and 14-6 before eventually stretching the margin to 18-8.
That’s when the Vikings began their comeback.
Phillips put away a kill off a Brooke Otto set, and Ray followed with an ace before another strong serve forced an Avonworth timeout at 18-11. Phillips added another kill, Babinsack came up with a block and Ray delivered another ace as Hopewell quickly cut the deficit to 18-14. Strong passing from Cipolla and Katcher helped keep the rally going, and Babinsack’s tip following a Katcher pass brought the Vikings within 19-18.
Avonworth eventually pushed the lead back to 23-20, putting itself two points away from forcing a deciding third set. Hopewell responded again.
Lillian Otto drove a ball through the block off a Ray pass, and Brooke Otto went to the service line with the Vikings trailing 23-21. An Avonworth error made it a one-point set before Otto dumped the ball into the middle to tie it at 23. Hopewell scored the next two points to complete the comeback and take the set, 25-23.
The Vikings outscored Avonworth 17-15 after falling behind 18-8, ushing strong accurate serving, improved passing and timely play at the net to turn the set around.
After leading throughout the opener, Hopewell showed its ability to respond to adversity in the second, scoring the final five points of the match to turn what appeared headed for a third set into an impressive straight-set road victory.
Hopewell returns home on Thursday vs. Ellwood City, opening a stretch of 4 of their next 6 matches at home.
Here’s the play-by-play:
Set #1
1-0 Hopewell on the board first off Ava Ray’s serve.
2-0 Avonworth with a wide return
3-0 Alyssa Phillips with the kill off the Holsinger set
5-0 Hopewell out to a fast start tonight
6-0 Phillips again with a kill. Timeout Avonworth
7-2 Avonworth with an error
9-3 Lillian Otto with a nice swing. Great pass up from Lilianna Katcher
10-5 Gianna Rossi with a nice read on a wide return
11-7 Ellie McCoy with a nice tip for a point
14-9 A heads up play by Abby Babinsack at the net
15-12 A serving error by Avonworth stops a run
16-13 Brooke Otto sets to Lillian Otto for a kill catching the back line
17-14 Lillian Otto with a nice shot off the net finding the floor
18-15 McCoy with another nice tip shot
18-16 A great back and forth rally by both teams. Excellent passing from Rossi, Katcher & Ray.
20-16 Bella Cipolla with a serve leading to an error. Timeout Avonworth.
22-16 Otto with a middle set to Babinsack for the kill.
24-17 Avonworth serving error gets to Set Point
25-17 Ray with an ace to close out Set #1
Set #2
1-2 Phillips tips one to the middle to get on the board
2-2 Lillian Otto stuffs an overpass for a kill
3-2 Otto again with a great swing. Nice running bump set from Holsinger
4-5 Babinsack with a hard hit ending with a point
5-6 Holsinger dumps one ending forcing an Avonworth error
5-10 Avonworth on a 4-point run. Timeout Hopewell.
6-14 Avonworth continuing pull away in Set 2
7-15 Hopewell with a great defensive play to grab a point. Diving plays from Brooke Otto &
Katcher.
8-18 Avonworth with an error
9-18 Phillips with the kill off Otto’s set.
10-18 Ray with an ace
11-18 Another good serve from Ray. Timeout Avonworth.
12-18 Phillips with another kill.
13-18 Babinsack with a great block
14-18 Ray with another ace
15-19 Another nice rally. Great passing again from Cipolla & Katcher
17-19 Hopewell continuing to grind back into the Set
18-19 Babinsack with great tip shot to the middle after the excellent pass from Katcher.
19-21 A great read from Katcher on a wide serve
20-21 A long return from Avonworth.
20-23 Avonworth with 2 quick points. Timeout Hopewell.
21-23 Lillian Otto hits one through the block. Nice pass from Ray.
22-23 Brooke Otto on the serve. Error from Avonworth.
23-23 Brooke Otto dumps one to the middle.
24-23 Hopewell grabs the lead!
25-23 Hopewell with a phenomenal comeback to win Set 2 and the match!
