GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team picked up their first win of the season tonight at home against Salem 3-2. This also marks HC Kiara Perkins' first win of her young coaching career.
Both squads went back and forth to start out the first set, going blow for blow until the Pioneers built a small three-point lead on a pair of Katarzyna Niderla kills and an error by the Tigers. Salem fought back, tying the set up at 20 but Glenville managed to have another three-point lead at 23-20. The Tigers were relentless, finishing the set scoring six out of the last seven points and earning a first set victory 26-24.
Salem kicked the second set off just as hot, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. The Pioneers used a trio of errors by Salem to even the set up at nine. The Tigers looked to be gaining momentum late in the set, holding onto a 19-17 lead. That wouldn't be the case as costly mistakes offensively by the Tigers and a strong finish by the Pioneers proved to be too much, leading GSU to a 25-20 set two victory.
The third set was dominated by Glenville State. Early on in the set, the Pioneers led 7-2 due to six errors by Salem and a service ace from Sarah Grainger. Only down five (13-8), the Tigers would allow seven unanswered points, jumping the Pioneers lead up to 20-8. Rita Kelly put the finishing touches on the set with a kill, pushing GSU to a 25-13 third set win.
With the Pioneers looking to close out the match in the fourth set, Salem faced the adversity mightily. Following Glenville State knotting it up 10, Salem outscored GSU 9-3 in the next 12 set points, pushing their lead to 19-13. The Pioneers attempted a resilient comeback, falling behind by just two late in the set. SU finished strong, tying the match total at two apiece with a 25-21 set four win.
In the final and deciding set, GSU came out swinging, putting up four-straight points before Salem joined in on the scoring. A few kills by Rita Kelly and Katarzyna Niderla as well as errors by Salem made it 8-3 as the teams switched sides. The Pioneers grew their lead to as much as six (14-8), just needing one final point to take the match. SU put up three consecutive points but it would be too late as GSU won the final set 15-11 on an error by Salem.
The Final Stats
Katarzyna Niderla was the lone Pioneer to reach double-digits in kills with 19. Sarah Mazzaferro came close with nine and Rita Kelly closed out her night with eight. Sarah Grainger added to her already 1,000+ career assists with a game-high 41 tonight. Five different Pioneers recorded 10 or more digs, led by Morgan Stephenson's 20.
Three Tigers had double-digit kills with Nakyla Middleton finishing with the most at 14. Trinity Eliasen had 29 assists while also having 16 digs. Alayna Cox had a game-high 23 digs in the loss.
Up Next For The Pioneers
Glenville State returns to the Waco Center on Friday night for a doubleheader with West Virginia Tech at 6 & 8 p.m.
