MCDONALD GETS WIN IN KEY MVAC MATCHUP

BERLIN CENTER OH-

On a wild Tuesday night of premier volleyball matchups across YSNs airwaves. There was a renewed rivalry, like there always seems to be when these two teams lock horns. Talking about The McDonald Blue Devils and The Western Reserve Blue Devils. Two programs so similar in the success they have had, that even the team name is not altered between them.

The one notable difference amongst the McDonald and Western Reserve volleyball programs is the age. Western Reserve has had a long tradition of being a successful team. Capturing a winning season in five consecutive years and eight total winning seasons in the last nine years. McDonald, on the other hand, is entering the fourth year of the program under head Coach Mike Klockner. Getting four wins better each season since the birth of the team in 2019, going 8-15 in that campaign.

Going into Tuesday evening, the highlight players came out to play! With girls like Angelina Cappabianca, Alyvia Hughes and Lisa Eichert leading the way for Reserve as a group of strong swingers. McDonald responds with a trio of Megan Klockner, Gianna Constantino and Maria Rasile!

Both teams went into the match fired up, as the first two sets were determined by a difference of just 2 points in each of them. The McDonald Blue Devils were able to capture Set 1, needing extra points to do so before following it up by grabbing a commanding lead in Set 2. However, Reserve was able to battle back and even take the lead at one point! McDonald stayed mentally tough, unwavered, they were able to grab another close set to go up 2-0 on Western Reserve. By Set 3, the confidence and momentum was heavily in the visitors court, as McDonald was able to keep the high energy and capture the match victory in straight sets. Miley Titus was a difference maker in the Tuesday matchup, neutralizing the heavy swingers of Western Reserve at various times throughout the game, making McDonald that much tougher to score against.

McDonald has made the adjustments to continue improving and continue competing in a very tough Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC). Prior to Tuesday night’s battle, McDoanld had only captured a single match victory in their history, losing 15 consecutive sets to Western Reserve. That first win came last year on September 16th, where McDonald would defeat Reserve 3-2. The Tuesday night victory would mark the first time that McDonald has beaten Western Reserve in straight sets, continuing the development of the program.

McDonald (5-0) will stay in the conference as they hit the road for Atwater on Thursday, September 1st to face off against Coach Franks’ Waterloo Vikings (2-2). Needing to keep pace, Reserve (4-2) will also play a MVAC conference matchup against The Lowellville Rockets (1-3) on Thursday.

Set Scores

McDonald 27 – 25 W.R.

McDonald 25 – 23 W.R.

McDonald 25 – 15 W.R.

Stat Leaders (McDonald)

Megan Klockner – 22 Assists

Maria Rasile – 12 Kills

Miley Titus – 23 Digs

Stat Leaders (Western Reserve)

Raelyn Meyer – 11 Assists

Lisa Eichert – 15 Kills

Alyvia Hughes – 3 Aces, 11 Kills.