Dogs top Indians

Enterprise Sports Editor

Swanton withstood a fervent Wauseon comeback to defeat the Indians in four games, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 29-27, in Northwest Ohio Athletic League volleyball on Tuesday.

Ahead two sets and 21-17 in the third, it looked as if the Bulldogs would wrap up the match. But the Indians were not ready to leave Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium that quickly.

Behind the serving of Alexi Pflager, Wauseon came back to take a 22-21 lead. A Pflager ace tied the set and a Swanton miscue put the Indians up one.

Danielle Bezeau answered with a kill for Swanton, but a tip by Alexis Pierce quickly put Wauseon back up. A lift put the Indians one point from a win before a Ashlee Polkinghorn kill made it 24-23. Pierce, who had a solid game, finished off the set with a kill.

In the fourth game, it looked like the Indians would send the game to a fifth and deciding set. They built a 24-19 advantage before Swanton started to come back.

With Bezeau serving the Bulldogs stormed all the way past Wauseon to take a 25-24 lead. She had three aces in the rally, which was helped by a Paige Onweller kill and Heather Hilton block.

An errant serve tie the set at 25 before an Onweller kill put the Dogs back up by one. A Swanton miscue and Pflager ace followed to give Wauseon a 27-26 and a chance to serve for the match.

But Swanton's Renee Kissling would register a kill to tie the game and a Wauseon net violation put the Bulldogs ahead 28-27. The match was finished when the Indians were forced into a four hit violation.

"Coming back after being down 24-19 in the fourth game to win shows that we will never quit," Swanton Coach Joe Nye said. "My players handled the pressure well and the eight seniors are doing a nice job of leading this team."

In the opening set, Swanton built a 19-10 advantage, but Wauseon came back to make it interesting. Behind the serving of Pflager and the kills and blocking of Pierce the Indians cut the lead to 19-17.

They got as close as 21-19, but the Dogs put the set away from there. A Shawna Rose ace and cross court kill from Kissling finished it off.

"Our players came out and wanted to make a statement early in the season that they were more than scrappy," said Nye. "I was very proud of our effort and the way we played early on in the match by taking the first two games of the match."

The second set was tight throughout with Swanton scoring the last four points to win. A Polkinghorn kill and Wauseon miscues gave the Dogs a two set advantage.

"Obviously we're very happy beating Wauseon, not only because it's a league game, but it has also been a long time since we have defeated them," Nye said.

Swanton will travel to Archbold for a key early season NWOAL matchup on Thursday.