NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Sept. 17, 2024) -- Rocky River put an end to an abbreviated two-match skid by serving and digging its way to a 3-1 triumph at North Olmsted Tuesday evening. The Pirates collected 11 overall aces and a season-high 19.5 digs per set in the Cleveland West Conference road win against an eight-win Eagles foe.

The Maroon & White faltered in the opening set and then took the next three. All four games were decided by 8 points or less. The Pirates (5-2, 5-2 CWC) prevailed 18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 26-24. They overcame five service errors in the close deciding game. In that fourth set, River hit .245 and managed 26 digs.

For the match, Rocky River out-hit North Olmsted .178 to .160. The Pirates (78 digs) and Eagles (83D) combined for 161 digs in the hard-fought, long-volley affair.

North Olmsted (8-6, 3-4) dropped its third straight CWC contest with the loss.

Maeve Sheridan (11 kills) and Avery LaPorte (6K, .263 hitting percentage) paced the Pirate front court. Kylie Spies (20 assists) and Ella Duffy (14 assists) combined for 34 assists. Spies added four aces and 12 digs. Lilly Cupp and Kiley McCourt were River's defensive stalwarts. They registered 23 and 21 digs, respectively.

Alyssa Byers had 13K and 12D for the Eagles.

The Pirates are 9-0 against North Olmsted since 2017.

The match in North Olmsted marked the first of two CWC road tilts this week for Rocky River. On Thursday, the Pirates will tussle with the Valley Forge Patriots in Parma.

by Skip Snow

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