Warrior spikers continue march toward post season
By Lenny Sementi
Tuscola volleyball coach Lydia Miller’s squad continued its march to the post season with a dominating win over Urbana University High 25-13, 25-11. It was the eighth win in their last nine outings, moving their record to 14-8 on the year and 4-1 in the Central Illinois Conference.
Tuscola utilized a big night from Karli Dean. The junior pounded home a match high 13 kills in the match while also adding a team best two blocks and two aces. Speaking of aces, sophomore Jessie Martin was on point at the service line adding career highs in service points and aces. The explosive ball of energy delivered 11 service points and five aces. She also ended the night with a career best 22 assists, feeding a front row that delivered 25 kills in all. Natalie Bates was tops on defense finding her way to seven saves.
Tuscola jumped out early on the back of Dean’s four kills early in game one helping the Warriors to a 10-2 lead. Sister Katie Dean then got into to the act by notching four kills of her own in the middle of set one to all but end the suspense as the Warriors cruised to a 12-point victory.
Set two was no different as the Deans did the damage at the net, and Bates and Martin kept the status quo on defense. Senior McKinlee Miller was strong in set two pounding out three of her four kills in the decisive second set.
Miller’s squad ran into to a buzz saw later in the week on Thursday, Oct. 4, falling to a strong St. Teresa team in straight sets 14-25, 12-25. The Lady Bulldogs built leads early in both sets and never let them go, despite a big effort from Bates who delivered 10 saves to the stat sheet.
Lexie Russo was tops for Tuscola in the kill department posting five to her season resume. Her sister Marissa did some damage as well collecting two kills of her own. Miller was big on defense behind just Bates in the save department finding her way to five digs. Maddie Green and Martin fed the front row each setting six assists in the two-set match. Tuscola moved to 14-9 overall with the loss and 4-2 in the CIC.
The full story can be found in the Wednesday, Oct. 10 edition of The Tuscola Journal.