NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Rocky River earned a five-game victory at North Olmsted on Thursday. The Pirates prevailed, 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-18, 20-25, 16-14), in the Great Lakes Conference West Division test on the road, thus closing out a busy week that saw the team play three matches in as many days.

Rocky River (7-6, 4-2 GLC West) closed out a two-match season sweep of the Eagles with the gutty victory. The Pirates defeated North Olmsted, 3-0, at Rocky River Gymnasium Sept. 7. Thursday's contest marked River's first 3-2 victory of the season; dating back to last season, the Pirates have won four straight matches needing a fifth-and-deciding set.

"The girls powered through in a tough and exciting match," said head coach Brittany Morris, whose charges defeated Elyria Catholic on Tuesday and lost to Vermilion on Wednesday. "We pulled through as a team, playing great together in that last game."

On a night otherwise filled with long volleys and both front courts being held in check, Rocky River came up with 16 aces. Estella Giomini and Maggie Pfahl each garnered four aces on the evening. Giomini also had 31 assists and 11 digs. Pfahl added four assists and 22 digs.

Clare Duffy registered 19 digs against just four dig errors. Taylor Spies had 17 digs against six miscues.

Samantha Young logged 18 kills and three aces. Madie Shoaf clocked 10 kills. Paige Waite swatted her way to 10 kills and a .388 average on a night the Pirates hit .150 as a team. Waite also had eight digs and a block assist.

Rocky River is scheduled to play three straight days again next week. That stretch will get underway Tuesday with a home match against the Bay Rockets.


by Skip Snow

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