Morgan Hamilton’17 dives to pass the ball to setter Kami Tibble’17, closest to the net. (Photo by Chris Heerman’18)
In a week filled with difficult matches, the volleyball team experienced both triumphant wins and close losses. These games will prepare the Vikings for a season of ups and downs as they ready themselves for the post-season in mid-October.
Academy faced a tough match against the London Red Raiders, currently with a 9-1 season record, on Tuesday, September 20.
“London is going to be the biggest challenge we’ll see this year. They’ve won the league last year and the year before,” said head coach Heather Gepper.
The Red Raiders did prove to be exactly this, winning in three straight sets against the Vikes. But Academy team persevered despite facing such a tough competitor, fighting until the last point with a score of 24-26. The Red Raiders, feeding off a loss early on in the match, easily won the second set 25-6, but the Vikes — not ready to be defeated so easily — responded with a more equal third set of 17-25. Sophia Freytag’20 had 9 kills, totaling the most of the game on the Academy side while Olivia Irion’16 had 13 defensive digs.
The team had a chance to make a comeback after its loss to London on Thursday, September 22, against Bexley High School.
Gepper said, “We have more leadership and experience than Bexley. It’s always a big game, and there are always a lot of fans that come out.” These assets contributed to a win for the Vikings and a redemption from the loss to London earlier that week. The team struck a resounding win 25-9 in the first set, responding to the large home crowd with victories in two more sets, 25-20 and 25-21 respectively. Camille Reeves’19, a newcomer to the varsity team had the most kills of the night, with 8. Senior co-captain Morgan Hamilton’17 had 12 defensive digs, and fellow captain Kami Tibbles’17, the team’s setter, totaled a season high of 20 assists.
The Vikes will face Whitehall on Tuesday, September 27, with the Rams seeking revenge from their loss to Academy earlier this year. In addition, the team will have a match against West Jefferson on Thursday, September 29 at home.
