CVAC volleyball: Nighthawks escape Hornets' hive in five-set thriller

PLATTSBURGH | The first set was a good indication the Oct. 18 CVAC varsity volleyball match between Peru and Plattsburgh High was going to be a good one. The Hornets rallied in the late stages of the first set to pull even with the Nighthawks at 24-24, eventually dropping the set 26-24, but carrying the momentum into a second set win as the match would teeter-totter for the rest of the night, with Peru eventually pulling out a fifth set, 25-14 win to earn the match. After winning the third set 25-14, Mallory Martin and Maddie Robinson played key roles in the decisive set for the Nighthawks. At 15-13, Martin had two kills and an ace to increase the lead to 18-13. After two side outs, Robinson was key on three straight points as the Nighthawks scored seven straight to close out the game. Martin had two of her team-high 12 kills and two of her team-high six aces in the fifth set, while Robinson had three of her five blocks and two of her three kills. "We knew Plattsburgh was going to want the game, they always push and they work very hard," said Martin. "We knew we had the skill set to win, but this was a match that was going to come down to who wanted it more. I told the team in the locker room we were going to be the team that wanted it more, and in the end, that's what we did. "I'm so happy with how we react in difficult situations — we have grit, and that is what I like about this team." "I went up for a block and was able to pass the ball after it came off my fingers, which I never do," said Robinson of her key block and pass near the end of the fifth set. "The end of the match was insane. We knew we wanted to win, so we went out there and were able to do that." Rachel Madore had 24 assists to lead the Nighthawk passing game while adding 17 digs, six kills, and a pair of aces. Alyssa Bartholomew led the team's transition game with 20 digs while adding five assists and two aces; while Payton Seymour added 16 digs, seven kills, and three aces; Katie Finn 14 digs, two kills, one block, and one ace; Alexandrea LaValley seven digs and two kills; Samantha Lyon four digs and two kills; Gabrielle Cunningham on ace and Haley-Ann Lozier one ace. The Hornets scored wins of 25-15 in the second set and 25-20 in the fourth to force a fifth frame, as Lily Snide combined 23 assists with 15 digs, seven kills, four aces, and two blocks, while Kristine Cantwell was the top Hornet attacker with 13 kills, five aces, three digs, and a block Olivia Nowosielski added 20 digs, four assists, two kills, and an ace; with Izzy DeTulleo getting 15 digs and one assist; Alli Crahan 12 digs and 10 kills; Calli Fitzwater 13 digs, two kills, and an ace; Elise Bruso three digs and a kill; and Natalie Battinelli four kills.

Signup for our newsletter

CVAC volleyball: Nighthawks escape Hornets' hive in five-set thriller

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS