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Knights Volleyball Has a Busy Week

By Randy Rutherford - Staff Writer | Sep 22, 2021

Erin Riffle Serves vs Parkersburg Cathloic

It was a busy week for the Tyler Consolidated High School Volleyball Team as they played six matches within five days, traveling many miles in the process, and bringing their overall record to 10-4.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the Knights hosted LKC and Sectional foe St. Marys High School. The Blue Devils played a competitive first set, but the Knights prevailed 25-22. The second set was all Silver and Black with the Blue Devils scoring only three service points, as the Knights won 25-10, and the Knights took the third set and the match 25-19.

Parkersburg Catholic, a name synonymous with athletic success for decades, came to Kidwell on Wednesday for a battle of top-ranked volleyball teams. Catholic, behind the play of Leslie Huffman, two- time LKC Basketball Player Of The Year, would prove to be a difficult opponent in set one, but the Knights, behind the defense of Senior Audrey Dennis, proved equal to the task and won set one 25-20. In the second set, the score went back and forth until the Knights scored the final two points to take a 25-23 second set win. Following a delay for an injury to a Catholic player, the Knights kept the momentum and won set three and the match 25-19.

“Catholic has some big time athletes and are a very good volleyball team. This was a total team effort and Audrey Dennis played the best she has ever played,” said TCHS Head Coach Richard Summers.

With little rest, the next night the Lady Knights traveled to take on Class AA perennial power Oak Glen Golden Bears, in what would go down as a match to be remembered for many years. The match went five sets and lasted just under three hours, as the Golden Bears prevailed by the narrowest of margins with scores of 25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-12. After the match, Coach Summers said, “I’ve coached 23 years and over 1,000 matches and this match ranks up there with one of the most intense and exciting. Just a great high school volleyball match in a great environment.”

On Saturday, the Knights returned to action for a quad match in Ravenswood. First up was the team from Buffalo (Putnam). Buffalo would strike first and rode the momentum to a 25-19 first set win.

In the second set, numerous service errors would prove costly for the Knights as they lost the second set and match 25-18. “We have some really good players and a good volleyball team. It is my job to find a way to make them play better. If I can do that, we will have an excellent team.” Said Summers.

The second match of the day was a rematch with the Paden City Wildcats. Paden City behind the hitting and blocking of Brandis Dalrymple won set one 26-24. T

he Knights would quickly regroup and win the next two sets and the match 25-13, 25-15.

The last match was against the host Ravenswood Red Devils. Again, the Knights were slow to get out of the blocks and lost 25-17 before recovering for a 25-7 second set victory and a 25-15 final set and match win.

“We are about to play the back nine so to speak with regards to the season. I’m proud of these girls so far and hope that our nine upperclassmen can help move us the one notch we need to move to be a special team, “ Summers concluded.