PARMA, Ohio – Rocky River Volleyball opened its 2020 season with a 3-1 loss at Normandy on Tuesday night. The host Invaders prevailed, 19-25, 14-25, 19-25, 15-25, in a hard-fought Great Lakes Conference battle.
Normandy (1-0, 1-0 GLC) held the River front court to an .063 hitting percentage in the four-set contest, and the win by the Invaders was their second in a row over RRHS. Normandy defeated the Pirates, 3-2, in Parma last September (Sept. 30) after having lost nine straight to Rocky River from 2015-19.
On Tuesday, the Pirates (0-1, 0-1) were paced by the efforts of junior Paige Waite (six kills, .210 hitting, three blocks), senior Austoria Miller (nine kills), freshman Samantha Young (seven kills, 13 digs), junior Taylor Spies (12 digs), junior Estella Giomini (12 digs, 10 assists, three service aces), and senior Emily Slyman (19 assists).
The Maroon & White got off to a fast start, taking a 9-2 lead in set No. 1. But a strong Invader squad would take 93-of-157 points the rest of the way. For River, the loss marked just the ninth in league play since 2017.
The Pirates are slated to continue the first week of their season with a home match on Thursday evening. River will host the Parma Redmen.
CANNON FIRE …
OPEN WOUND: Rocky River Volleyball has logged a .667 winning percentage (64-32) over the last four seasons, but the Pirates have had to work their way past tough openers against quality foes. With Tuesday’s setback at Normandy, the Double-R has dropped five straight season openers (2016-20).
YOUTH IS SERVED: The Pirate freshman squad won, 2-0 (25-10, 25-16), in Tuesday’s tilt at Normandy. The River junior varsity won 2-0 (25-12, 25-21).
HIGH FIVE: The 2020 varsity team is led by five senior players – Miller, Slyman, Molly Sheridan, Emma Liszeski, and Jaidyn Cruz.
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