The host Blue Aces rallied with five consecutive points to end their season-opening 25-7, 25-22, 25-23 victory.
GRANVILLE ― As Granville volleyball looks to put a 6-18 season behind it, the 2025 opener with visiting Fairfield Union took on added importance Aug. 18.
Not only did the Blue Aces fall 3-0 to the Falcons last year, but a quick start would accelerate the turnaround this fall.
Sure enough, they came roaring out of the gate by dominating the first set 25-7. However the visitors, coming off an 18-6 season, might be in a bit of a rebuilding year, but nearly won the second set before falling 25-22, then took a 23-20 lead late in the third.
However, hopefully in a sign of things to come, Granville ran off the last five points and closed out the sweep with a 25-23 victory.
"It was a really good win, a really good start," said senior outside hitter Makenna Watson, who led the Blue Aces' hitting with nine kills. "It has us headed in a good direction."
Added senior outside hitter Mylee King, who chipped in with five kills: "To start out with a win was big. We have to start somewhere. They beat us badly last year"
Coach Lauren Moore was happy to see her team close out the match. Last year's record was a bit deceiving, as the Blue Aces dropped a pair of tough 3-2 matches to Licking County League-Buckeye champion Licking Heights, and also fell 3-2 to Watkins Memorial and Bishop Hartley.
"It was big for us," she said. "We really struggled to finish games last year. People didn't realize. We were right there with a lot of the top teams. Being down like we were in that third set, it was huge to come back."
Senior Emma Gulledge assisted King on a kill to launch the late rally and also had a kill, while sophomore libero Ady Sims served one of her six aces. She also led the defense with 10 digs, and King and junior Clara Bethel finished things off by teaming up for a block.
"Our defense has a lot of heart," Moore said.
Granville bolted ahead 10-1 to begin the night, and spread the wealth in a dominant first set that saw Watson, 6-foot-2 junior standout Elle Mortimer and King all record kills. Junior Happy Rhoton, who added six digs, assisted Watson to end the set, and junior setter Cassie Becker started the second with an ace and an assist to senior lefthander Melia Teter.
But the Falcons weren't going quietly, battling back to lead 17-14 before the Blue Aces staged their first rally. Teter had another kill, Watson came through with two big scores and Mortimer had a block. She finished with seven kills and five blocks, while Teter added six kills and five blocks and junior Makayla Smith also had six kills.
"Our chemistry is a lot stronger this year," Watson said. "We work hard in practice, we're really focused at practice and we're very connected. We have energy, and it really picks us up."
Moore noticed the connection during the summer.
"Our energy and performance were up and down, which it is often for teams during the summer," she said. "But the chemistry is where we showed consistency."
King said the entire team is best friends, who support each other and work together. The Blue Aces might not look like the most intimidating team, with only Mortimer topping 6-0, but they're able to make up for their lack of size.
"Just with our scrappiness, and we're able to get up and have good verticals," she said. "It helps our blocking and hitting. Some of those teams that crushed us last year, we want to come back and beat them."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Granville volleyball starts, finishes strong in Fairfield Union sweep
Category: General Sports
