East is east and west is west. And for anyone who might have noticed the team that was on the east side of the volleyball court in a five-set thriller won sets here Wednesday night.
Really, the side of the court doesn’t really matter but just an interesting fact to toss out after Allen Community College’s Red Devils pulled out a big home victory against Independence Community College’s Pirates. The teams “held serve” so to speak in four sets as the team opening the set with the serve won it.
It all came down to the fifth set played to just 15 points, and like the others, must be won by two points. Allen was on the west side of the court and led 7-6 before Independence gained the serve.
Independence led 8-7 when the teams switched sides. The Pirates got another point then sophomore Haley Mertens delivered a kill to keep the Red Devils to within one.
Down 12-10, Allen tied it up again then trailed. That’s how it went right to the end. Independence was up 17-16 and had the serve but freshman Sidney Keith pounded down a kill for ACC.
Mertens took over the serve for Allen and kept it. Tying it up on the first serve, the Red Devils needed just one point to win. Sierra Morgison put an “aggressive tip” down the line that proved too tough to return for the Pirates and Allen celebrated.
The Red Devils won 25-23, 15-25, 25-14, 23-25, 19-17. The victory evened Allen’s Jayhawk Conference record to 1-1.
Allen takes a 2-4 mark into this weekend’s Highland Community College tournament in Highland.
“This match can be summed up as simple as earned point followed by an error is a wash,” said Jessica Peters, ACC head coach. “We had struggles at the service line (12 service errors) and in several other areas.
“But the girls found a way to win tonight. They fought hard when we were down in the fifth set. Sierra made an aggressive tip down the line and Independence shanked the pass out of bounds for the final point.”
Sophomore setter Jacqui Ortiz finished with 14 service points. She had two critical five-point runs in sets one and three. Ortiz also had 31 set assists and 20 digs.
Mertens delivered 24 kills at the net, served up 14 points, with two five-point runs in the third and fourth sets for ACC. Morgison pounded down 20 kills and served for four points. Mertens made 22 digs and Morgison had 15 digs.
Tayler Shook, freshman libero, came up with 45 digs and served for seven points. Shook and Mertens each had two service aces.
Freshman setter Adriee Munoz had 24 assists and 15 digs plus served for five points. Keith, a freshman, had 11 kills, one solo block and three assisted blocks. She served for six points.
Sophomore Autumn Douglas had one solo block and two assisted blocks. Sophomore Randi Billings and freshman Cheyanne Miller each had one solo block.
