STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (Aug. 21, 2023) -- Rocky River defeated Strongsville 3-1 in a hard-fought season opener Monday evening. The Pirates prevailed by scores of 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 30-28, in winning a fall lid-lifter for a third straight year.
"We had a great night serving and getting blocks at the net," said coach Brittany Hensley, who opened her third season at the helm of the program.
River finished the night with 14 aces and 10 blocks. The latter figure marked the program's best single-match performance since since clocking 13 blocks in a 3-1 loss to Tallmadge on Oct. 28, 2020.
The Pirates, who return four starters and nine letterman from last year's squad which went 16-7, outpaced eight attack errors and an .061 hitting percentage with eight aces and four blocks in their 25-18 opening set. Senior libero Maggie Pfahl registered three aces and four digs without an error in that first game.
Pfahl added nine more digs in the second game. That set saw six different players record kills, and the Double-R was able to slide by its hosts by the thinnest of margins.
Strongsville (0-1) forced the Pirates into more defensive and block errors ... and River was held without an ace ... in the Mustangs' 25-20 triumph in set No. 3.
The Pirates earned the 30-28 match-winner in a more open game with both sides taking chances and scrambling defensively.
For the match, Rocky River hit .159. The Pirates' 14 aces came alongside nine errors, the team's most since Sept. 29 (nine vs. Fairview).
Individually, the Buccaneers got 15 kills and four total blocks from junior middle hitter Ella Brokaw. The second-team all-Great Lakes Conference performer in 2022 swatted her way to a .393 mark. Senior Samantha Young, a first-team all-district outside hitter as a junior, registered 14 kills and 12 digs. Young is now just 28 kills away from 1,000 in her career.
Avery LaPorte hit .388 en route to collecting a career-high eight kills. Katelyn Heavey also tallied a career-best eight kills.
Ella Duffy logged 10 digs and three aces. Kylie Spies added 11 digs and had three aces without any service errors. Pfahl finished her evening with 25 digs and four aces against no service errors.
"This was a high-intensity match," said Hensley, "and I am proud of how the girls competed and finished strong. I can't wait to see what this team continues to accomplish."
Rocky River (1-0) will open its home season Thursday, when the Maroon & White welcome Buckeye to Rocky River Gymnasium.
CANNON FIRE ...
BACK TO THE PIRATE PORT: Three of the Pirates' next four matches will be at home. Rocky River went 10-0 on its home hardwood last year and dating back to 2021 has won 11 in a row at the Corner of Wagar & Detroit.
YOUNG BUCS: Sophomores Lyniah Campbell-Cass and Kiley McCourt logged their first varsity sets Monday night. Campbell-Cass registered three kills and five total blocks in four games. McCourt logged five digs and an ace in a pair of sets.
VALUABLE VETS: The 2023 Rocky River captains are Ella Brokaw, Avery LaPorte, Maggie Pfahl, and Samantha Young.
by Skip Snow
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