Story by Kadin Rogers
The Monmouth-Roseville varsity volleyball team was back in action at the Shoebox of Monmouth-Roseville High School. The Titans welcomed in Three Rivers Conference rival Riverdale for the first West Division match of the season for both teams. Riverdale would give M-R an tough battle throughout the entire contest, but the Titans would hold on to win in three sets by scores of 25-20, 24-26, and 26-15.
It was a tug-of-war style battle between the Titans and Rams for a bulk of the first period, with both squads exchanging several ties and leads early. Near the end of the first, however, Monmouth-Roseville began to take control of the set, taking a 23-19 lead and compelling Riverdale to call timeout. Out of the break, an ace from Junior Brianna Woodard and a match point kill from Senior Carmyn Huston would give the Titans the 25-20 first set win.
Feeling the momentum from their win on the opening set, the Titans began the second set on a heater, opening up a 6-1 lead on the Rams with help from numerous serving aces from Huston. M-R would go on a long run from that point, amassing a 21-8 lead, before Riverdale would go on a big run of their own, cutting the Titans lead to 22-20. Monmouth-Roseville would find themselves just one point away from the win, but Riverdale scored the final 6 points of the set to complete the massive comeback, and take set number two 26-24.
In the third and final set, Riverdale opened up a 4-0 lead, before M-R finally regained their groove, taking the next 17 out 24 points to take the 17-11 lead, forcing a Rams timeout. The Lady Titans squad would find themselves in the driver seat for the rest of the game, taking the 3rd set 25-16, and securing the pivotal conference win.
Big performers in the statbook for the Titans include Brianna Woodard with 10 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces, Carmyn Huston with 2 kills, 8 assists, and 4 aces. Elise Blaesing added 5 assists, Amelia Reynolds had 3 kills, and Raelyn Stokes and Molly McVey each had serving aces.
The Titans are back at home tomorrow night for a non-conference match with the Knoxville Blue Bullets.
