COPLEY, Ohio -- Rocky River defeated Woodridge, 3-0, Thursday to move on in
district tournament play.
The Pirates (14-10) got big performances in the front court and on defense in dispatching the Bulldogs, 30-28, 25-16, 25-10. The 58-point opener -- which included the River Raiders falling behind by six points -- marked the most points in a River game this fall.
"The girls played with great energy and had fun," said head coach Brittany Morris. "Our passing and serve receive were solid, and we had some huge blocks that gave us energy and momentum, particularly in the third set."
Ella Brokaw and Harper Piguet each had two blocks on the night. Rocky River had eight blocks as a team. On the attack, Brokaw (three kills) and Piguet (five) were part of a six-player contingent to log multiple kills. Samantha Young (15), Paige Waite (six), Estella Giomini (five kills against no hitting errors), and Madie Shoaf (five kills) were the other members of the Buccaneers dandy half-dozen. Young also had two blocks in the win. The Pirates hit .258 as a team and have now hit .230-or-better in five of their last six matches.
Samantha Young swung her way to a .461 hitting percentage in the match. Young is hitting .414 over the Pirates' last six matches.
Defensively, the Maroon & White were paced by Maggie Pfahl (18 digs) and Giomini (10). Giomini's 10 digs were of the errorless variety; the senior setter also connected defense to offense with 29 assists.
Some of River's success came without passes or a defense of volleys: the Pirates had 13 service aces against the Bulldogs (14-10). Young and Clare Duffy had three aces each.
Rocky River -- now winner of three matches in a row and six of their last seven -- will play Copley in the a district semifinal on Wednesday.