WESTLAKE, Ohio (Sept. 7, 2023) -- The Rocky River Pirates battled their way to a monster 3-2 win at Westlake in Thursday night Great Lakes Conference West Division action. With a big three-headed performance at the net, and a superb back-line defense by senior libero Maggie Pfahl, the Pirates prevailed 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 24-26, 15-9.
The key road win came in River's first five-set tilt of the season, and it keeps the Buccaneers unbeaten through six matches.
The Maroon & White were undone by a lackluster .103 attack percentage in the opening game and a big momentum grab by the host Demons -- a six-win team heading into the match -- in a marathon, 50-point tussle in the fourth. In between, the Pirates -- a program that had endured a string of 3-2 losses to Westlake in recent years -- exhibited sensational team play in games 2 and 3.
Rocky River (6-0, 3-0 GLC West) got seven kills from outside hitter Lyniah Campbell-Cass en route to hitting .203 in a confidence-boosting second set. Pfahl (five digs) and Samantha Young (6D) combined for 11 errorless digs in that match-leveling game. In the third set, the Pirates got seven kills from Ella Brokaw, 10 assists from Ella Duffy, and 10 digs from Pfahl as they broke through to gain the advantage. River hit a robust .333 in that frame.
Young registered a clutch four-kill, three-dig fifth, as the Raiders prevailed in the tense final game. The Pirates' all-time leader in kills filed 24K and 20D for the match. She has banged out 4.3 kills per set while hitting .360 over River last two matches.
Frontcourt-mates Brokaw and Campbell-Cass added 15 and 18 kills, respectively. Rocky River hit a solid .221 for the match. Duffy (26 assists) and Kylie Spies (28A) helped run that productive offense. Spies helped the Pirates avoid even having to go on the attack: she had six aces.
Maggie Pfahl logged a fine all-around line of 6 assists, three aces, and 32 digs.
"Maggie was phenomenal in the back row," said coach Brittany Hensley. "She is the backbone of our back row, and we rely on her so much."
Hensley also commented on a group of players relying on each other when the going gets tough.
"I'm super proud of these girls. They keep stepping up when we need it."
On Thursday, the Pirates stepped up against a Westlake program that from 2016-22 won eight straight against River. Five of those wins were in 3-2 affairs.
So, one might say these River Raiders of 2023 are deep, determined ... and different.
CANNON FIRE ...
3-2-WON: Thursday's back-and-forth marathon match was comprised of 205 total points. That marks the most in a Rocky River match since Sept. 23, 2021, when the Pirates and North Olmsted Eagles volleyed 207 points about in a 3-2 River triumph (25-21, 18-25, 25-18, 20-25, 16-14).
ON DECK: Rocky River's next match also figures to be a key battle in the GLC West standings. That next match will be on Wednesday when the Pirates will travel to Bay Village to take on a Bay Rockets team which is currently 7-2 (2-0 GLC West). River and Bay have engaged in four five-set matches since 2019.
by Skip Snow
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