The Olentangy Berlin girls volleyball team was in each set, taking late leads in the first two, but host Olentangy Orange rallied each time on the way to a 3-0 non-league win Thursday night in Lewis Center.
The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 edge in the opener thanks in part to an ace by Addison Knapke. A block by Ava Fate bumped the early advantage to 5-2 before another ace, this time from Charlize Ailes, ballooned the lead to 10-4.
The Pioneers had an answer, though. A kill by Kylie Perone got Orange within 11-7 and, a few points later, a block and kill on back-to-back possessions tied things at 11 and forced a Berlin timeout.
Things stayed tight.
The Bears took a 19-16 lead on a Pioneer serving error, but Orange scored the next four, taking its first lead on a Berlin hitting error.
A kill by Perone made it 23-20 before back-to-back kills by Camryn Coomer sealed the 25-21 opening-set win.
Maci Gerboth got the Pioneers off to a good start in the second with a kill, but the Bears hung around until taking their first lead of the set, 9-8, on an Orange error.
Berlin took a four-point lead into the late stages of the set, but Orange scored six of the final seven points, including a pair of key aces from Coomer, to steal the 25-23 second-set win.
The Pioneers stayed hot from the service stripe in the third as an ace by Chloe Moore made it 3-1 early, but the Bears clawed back again, tying things at seven on a block by Kadee Goolsby. A Goolsby kill made it 8-7 and a touch shot a few points later made it 11-10 Berlin, but Orange went on a 5-1 run shortly after to take a commanding 19-14 lead.
The Bears got within two, 23-21, but a couple kills by Perone secured the 25-21 third-set win.
Orange was about as balanced as a team can be in the sweep as Perone, Gerboth, Coomer and Izzy Scholvin had eight kills apiece. Emma Cugino anchored the defense with 23 digs, including the 1,000th of her career, while Scholvin had a team-best 26 assists.
Delaware Christian 3, Northside Christian 0
The Eagles cruised to a straight-set win over host Northside Christian Thursday night as Bekah Williams and Ellie Tiede each finished with 12-plus kills.
DCS won the first set 25-11 before taking the next two by respective scores of 25-14 and 25-19.
Williams finished with 13 kills, 10 digs and four aces while Tiede had 12 kills and eight digs. Other standouts included Kyra Lansford, who finished with 15 assists, 11 digs and three aces; Jasmine Proper, who had 12 digs and 10 assists; and Payton Eversole, who collected 19 digs in the win.
Also: Olentangy Liberty def. Dublin Jerome 25-22, 25-17, 23-25, 26-24; Big Walnut def. Worthington Kilbourne 21-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-19; Westerville South def. Delaware Hayes 13-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21.
BOYS SOCCER
Westerville South landed the first punch, but visiting Big Walnut connected on the next three en route to a 3-1 OCC-Capital Division win Thursday night in Westerville.
Sean Joyce scored the equalizer in the first half and, with the game tied 1-1 at the break, Jacob Marshall added a pair of second-half tallies to seal the deal.
Mylo Board and Connor Huston had assists in the win.
Also: Delaware Hayes 2, Westerville North 2; Westerville Central 1, Olentangy 0; New Albany 3, Olentangy Liberty 1.
GIRLS SOCCER
Delaware Hayes spread the wealth, getting a combined seven goals from six different players en route to a dominant 7-1 OCC-Capital Division win over host Westerville North on Thursday night.
Khloe White scored twice while Molly Johnson, Mady Haser, Harlow Dye, Addie Reed and Reese Laaksonen all found the back of the net once.
Ellie Roberson and Brea Philibin each had two assists in the win while Chloe Skeens anchored the defense with five saves.
Also: Big Walnut 3, Westerville South 1; Olentangy Orange 5, Marysville 0; Olentangy 2, Westerville Central 2.