Warrensburg Volleyball Raids Moulton

JOHN CURTIS - Daily Union Sports Editor

Moulton volleyball knew Warrensburg was going to be a tough opponent, even at home on Saturday morning, and that proved to be true as the Lady Ram 7th went down, 14-25, 25-23, 19-25, and the Lady Ram 8th went down, 14-15, 15-25.

Ram 7th struggled in game 1, then was able to compete in game 2. Neverthless, they were down 23-18 and were in danger of being swept. Rachel Fox then drove a stake in the ground and said "No more!" She swung fo the kill and got the serve for Madison Boone. Boone served an ace and it was, 23-20. Boone then dug a ball that just cleared the net to make it 22-23 and force a Cardinal time-out.

The next Card swing went longto tie the game, then Fox struck again. She took a free ball and stuffed it with two hands for a 24-23 lead. Boone, still serving on her 7th straight point, delivered an ace for the game, 25-23.

Game three started out close with three ties in the first five points. At that point, Warrensburg went on a long service run, running the score up to 12-5, including two aces. Haley Eisenbarth tipped for the side-out, then went to serve.Eisenbarth led the Rams at the line in this match with 14 points, two aces. She served one of those aces in a 4-point run, that also saw a good dig by Alex Johnston, despite a missed Ram kill later in the point, 13-9.

Fox hammered a kill , but a Ram service error gave the ball right back to Warrensburg. The Rams got the ball on a missed kill, but then served another error. Warrensburg had communication problems and gave the ball away and finally the Ram got a serve in, an ace from Fox. However, the Rams blew a set. A long rally on the next point and the Rams got the ball, but again they couldn't score.

The back and forth kept moving the game along to 17-14 Cards. Boone returned a ball that Warrensburg couldn't handle, but the Cards killed off a Ram block attempt, then Shelby had a bad pass. The Rams couldn't score when they got the serve. Fox killed for the side-out again, this time against a double block, but they couldn't score with the serve, because Warrensburg killed through a Ram double block, 21-17.

The Cards had the serve and blew it. The Rams got the serve at 21-18 and blew it. W-L then aced and forced a Ram time-out at 23-18. On the Card serve, Boone returned the ball just over the net and the Card at the net missed the tip. The Rams were called in the net to bring match point, then Warrensburg served an ace for the win.

"The girls stepped up their play today, but couldn't pull it off against a tough W-L team," said Ram 7th coach Stephenie Shoaff. "But, this is a game we could have had if we just could have focused from the service line. Overall, I'm glad we had a chance to test our skills. We elevated out level and I hope this will make us better in the end."

7th

Warrensburg def. Moulton, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19

Ram stats: Haley Eisenbarth 14 points, 2 aces, 6 assists, 3 kills, 1 block, 2 digs; Molly Yockey 12 points, 1 assist; Madison Boone 12 points, 1 kill, 1 dig; Rachel Fox 8 points, 2 aces, 3 assists, 7 kills, 5 digs; Alex Johnston 8 points, 1 kill, 5 digs; Caitlyn Killam 4 points, 1 kill, 2 digs.

In the 8th grade match, Warrensburg had a 7-point service run to lead 9-2. Morgan Voyles, although still not 100% from her injury, asserted herself in this match. She swung for a kill and got the serve for Briana Ruff. Ruff served a 5-point run with two aces, another Voyles kill and a Morgan Lawrence tip, 9-7. Back and forth got it to, 13-9. Warrensburg, then went on a 5-point run, 18-10.

Morgan Voyles struck again and got the side-out with a kill. Sandra Williams had great dig during a rally, but Warrensburg hit a kill right on the back line. At 19-12, The Rams were called for a lift, they got stuffed, then were aced, bringing a time-out at 22-12.

At 22-13, Voyles served and the receive caromed to the rafters on the Cardinal side. However, the Cardinals were very attept at keeping points alive. They got control and still returned it. Lawrence still got the point on a kill, 22-14, but Warrensburg went on a 3-point run to take game 1.

In game 2, W-L went out to a 6-0 run with four aces. Brandy Smith got a tip for the side-out, but the Rams couldn't score. Julia Bolinger came in to serve at 6-2 and served four points. Lawrence had a free ball stuff and Voyles slammed a free ball, 7-5. Warrensburg answered with a 3-point run. Lawrence got the kill and gave Ruff the ball at the line. Ruff served a corner ace and Eigsti tipped to keep it close, 10-8.

Warrensburg answered with a 3-point run of their own, 14-8. Lindsey Eigsti quick-tipped and Voyles served an ace, but still trailed, 14-10. After a bad Ram pass, let a serve drop in. At 16-10 Shelby called time. Smith blocked a kill, but the point continued and she lost the net battle. The Cards served an ace and were closing in on a sweep, 19-11. After a Card service error, Eigsti served an ace, 19-13. But, W-L tipped over the front line and went on a 5-point roll.

Smith finally got a side-out with a kill at 24-14. Alexis Halbrook served a short ace, 24-15. but on the next point, Warrensburg scored the match-winner on a quick tip.

"This was a match where we had entirely too many unforced errors," said Ram 8th coach Brittany Pierce. "We struggled to communicate and, therefore, way too many balls hit our side of the court that shouldn't have. To Warrensburg's credit, they served well and took some great swings. We didn't move our feet on defense and waited on them to make errors. I know these girls have much more talent and ability than what they showed this morning. I hope we can move one and do better next week. We have another tough week ahead of us with Meridian on Tuesday and a tournament on Saturday."

8th

Warrensburg def. Moulton, 25-14, 25-15

Ram stats: Morgan Voyles 8 points, 3 aces, 3 kills, 4 digs; Briana Ruff 5 points, 1 ace, 1 dig; Julia Bolinger 5 points; Lindsey Eigsti 3 points, 1 ace, 6 assists, 1 kill, 1 dig; Kayla Brachbill 3 points, 2 digs; Morgan Lawrence 2 points, 3 kills, 1 dig; Alexis Halbrook 2 points, 1 ace; Brandy Smith 1 points, 4 kills, 2 digs; Sandra Williams 1 dig.

Moulton 7th (7-3, 2-3 Okaw) and 8th (8-2, 3-2 Okaw) play Tuesday at Meridian.

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