Liberty handles rival Olentangy 3-1

0

The Olentangy Liberty girls volleyball team dug itself out of a hole and knocked off host Olentangy in four sets to take sole possession of second place in the OCC-Buckeye Tuesday night in Lewis Center.

The Patriots (13-1, 4-1) won 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 to stay a game behind first place Olentangy Orange in the league at the midway point of the conference schedule.

“I really love playing on this team and we have a good group of girls,” Liberty junior Abby Erickson said. “It always feels good to come out and beat good teams like (Olentangy). I’m really proud of my team.”

“I think they know what’s on the line … what type of win this is,” Liberty coach Jen Chapman said. “It was a must-win if we have any chance to compete for a title in the league.”

Erickson gave Liberty a lift with seven solo blocks. She assisted on four blocks and finished with eight kills to spark the Patriots.

“Defensively, she provides a lot in the front row,” Chapman said. “Offensively, she provides a threat that the other team has to think about. She opens up options for our other hitters because they’re focused on her.”

Maddie Fogg had 42 assists and two aces, Claranne Fechter had 12 kills and Cameryn Dyer had 18 digs to lead the Patriots.

“Like I said at Orange, if we can get our middles going and we’re passing well enough – that’s when we compete,” Chapman said.

Taylor Karlo finished with 10 kills and Heather Littlejohn added nine for Liberty, which won its seventh straight.

Olentangy coach Sarah Wilson was not as enthusiastic as she was last Thursday when her squad battled, but ultimately lost in four sets at Orange.

“I think there were some players that really wanted to work hard for the team. I think those ‘some’ need to work on infecting the others with how hard they work and it’s not for the attention and it’s not for the stats,” she said.

“I think we had the opportunity to take last week and grow on it. Some (of the girls) did, some did not,” she added.

Maris Kaiser had three aces, Madyson Chitty had 24 digs and Olivia Margolies had 22 digs and a .373 hit rate to lead Olentangy (8-4, 3-2).

“Madyson Chitty did a phenomenal job,” Wilson said. “I think she really worked hard to keep the ball off the floor and she did it effortlessly. She busted her butt every single play.”

Next up, both teams have non-league matches at home Thursday. Olentangy hooks up with Marysville and Liberty faces off with Upper Arlington.

.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}

Olentangy Liberty’s Heather Littlejohn (9) and Abby Erickson jump to try and block a shot from Olentangy’s Emily Margolies (6) during Tuesday’s league showdown in Lewis Center.
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/09/web1_libveebsblock.jpgOlentangy Liberty’s Heather Littlejohn (9) and Abby Erickson jump to try and block a shot from Olentangy’s Emily Margolies (6) during Tuesday’s league showdown in Lewis Center.

By Michael Rich

For the Gazette

Follow Michael Rich on Twitter @mrichnotwealthy or contact him at [email protected].

No posts to display