By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour’s junior high girls’ volleyball teams each needed three sets to secure wins on Wednesday (Feb. 17) at Clinton.
The seventh-grade team rebounded from a loss in its previous match by putting away the Maroons, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23.
Ava Hewitt’s seven-point run from the service line was instrumental in clinching the first-set win.
After evening the match with a second-set triumph, Clinton was poised to win the match when it moved into a 23-20 lead in the third set.
With Brooklyn Dyer at the service line, the Bulldogs reeled off five consecutive points and capped the comeback.
For the match, Lilty Bosworth and Ava Yeakel each landed five kills. Bosworth had two blocks. Nineteen of the team’s points were scored on service aces, including six by Hewitt.
On Saturday (Feb. 20), M-S dropped a narrow 25-23, 26-24 decision to St. Matthew in Champaign.
In the first set, M-S scored the first six points and led as late as 23-22. In the second set, the Bulldogs couldn’t finish after pulling ahead 24-16.
On Monday (Feb. 22), the young Bulldogs produced their fifth two-set sweep, overpowering Champaign Edison 25-8, 25-8, in Mahomet.
Strong serving by Olivia DeWitt (nine-point service run) and Hannah Creel (seven-point service run) sparked the first-set win.
Erin Dallas and Hewitt registered matching nine-point service runs in the second set.
For the match, Hewitt had seven aces and three kills. Dallas also landed seven aces. Anna Streicher and Yeakel each totaled three kills.
On Tuesday (Feb. 23), the seventh-grade Bulldogs recovered from a one-set deficit to beat St. Joseph, 18-25, 25-6, 25-11.
M-S started strong in the second set, surging ahead 9-1, and used that momentum to claim the decisive third set.
Yeakel had five kills and six aces. Hewitt contributed three kills and five aces. Streicher had matching totals of three kills and three aces. Dallas’ team-high nine aces included one on set point.
M-S’ seventh-grade team has a 7-2 season record.
The unbeaten eighth-graders topped Clinton 25-12, 23-25, 25-15 on Wednesday (Feb. 17). M-S held a 23-20 lead in the second set, but couldn’t register its sixth consecutive two-sweep win of the season.
The Bulldogs were led by Addi Eisenmann with seven kills, Talia Francom with six kills and five blocks, and Elle Barker with six kills. Elana Religioso recorded six service aces.
On Saturday (Feb. 20), M-S continued its winning ways, topping St. Matthew 25-20, 25-18 in Champaign.
The first set featured five ties before the Bulldogs pulled out the five-point win. In the second set, a late four-point service run by Ellie Dallas helped to complete the two-set sweep.
Barker delivered a team-high seven kills. Francom had four kills and two blocks. Eisenmann added four kills and Dallas recorded four service aces.
On Monday (Feb. 22), M-S blitzed Champaign Edison, 25-10, 25-12.
Francom posted four kills and three blocks. Kylie Waldinger contributed three kills and a block. Ellie Dallas served six aces.
On Tuesday (Feb. 23), the Bulldogs made visiting St. Joseph the eighth opponent they’ve swept in two sets. M-S prevailed, 25-15, 25-9.
A five-point service run by Barker provided M-S the cushion it needed to win the opening set by 10 points. Eisenmann was at the service line for a lengthy (eight-point) run in the second set that erased doubt about the outcome.
Barker led the Bulldogs with six kills and six aces. Eisenmann totaled five kills and three aces. Francom ended with four kills and three blocks.
The eighth-grade Bulldogs are 9-0 for the season.
M-S returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 25) on the road against Monticello.
