LIVERPOOL OUTLASTS BEAVERS ON RIVALRY NIGHT
EAST LIVERPOOL OH- RIvalries in sports can be defined by the passion and emotions the players and loyal fan bases provide as their team looks for supremacy against the other. Look no further than 43920 when it comes to the passion rivalries can provide as East Liverpool and Beaver Local tangled Tuesday night before a raucous crowd at the Beaver Dome. The Potters would harness all the emotion of the night fueling a 4 set victory over their rivals 25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-17.
The Beavers early on fed off the energy their student section provided as they found themselves 2 points shy of a first set victory 23-18. East Liverpool junior Kyia White would squash any thoughts of a Beavers victory as she provided a big time kill before serving 6 straight to secure the first set comeback 25-23. Both teams in the 2nd set would trade points neither seemingly able to gain any momentum. Beaver Local held a 22-20 lead with White looking for dejavu as she stepped to the service line looking to spark another comeback. The Beavers Briar Wolski had better plans as she took an Emma Jospeh set and ripped it down the line to quell any thoughts of that comeback as the Beavers took set 2, 25-21.
The Beaver Dome was alive at that point as both squads tried to channel the energy their fan bases were providing heading into the 3rd set. Each team playing through communication issues looked for any edge they could get to separate themselves from the other. Tied 14-14 the Potters, behind the experience of Kyia White who provided a couple of heads up plays at the net, reeled off 10 of the next 11 points on their way to a 25-15 3rd set victory. The inexperience of the Beavers shined a little too brightly in the 4th set as they never were able to challenge the Potters as the blue and white finished the night with a 25-17 4th set victory.
The victory for East Liverpool was a team effort as Kyia White contributed 14 kills and 20 digs. Kenzie Headley contributed 9 kills and Ava Green added 5 kills of her own. Dalani Ice set the table all night with 27 assists and Faith Grafton led the defense with 25 digs. For the Beavers, Briar Wolski had 14 kills and 5 digs. Peyton Roberts contributed 15 kills and 8 digs while Aleia Evanko added 24 digs and 18 assists. Chloe Reed anchored the Beavers back row defense with 25 digs.
Both teams return to action Thursday, as Beaver Local (3-3) welcomes Harrison Central, East Liverpool (3-0) looks to stay unbeaten as they entertain Oak Glen.
*Contributed By YSN’s Chris Sigler
