Clippers are meeting their goals
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COLUMBIANA -- There hasn’t been a challenge the Columbiana volleyball team hasn’t conquered this season.
The Clippers hope to keep it that way.
Columbiana knocked off Girard, a team it lost to in the tournament the past two years, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 on Monday to move to 14-0 on the season.
Columbiana coach Jennifer Martin said the match against Girard (4-13) was just what the team needed as it heads into a stretch where important Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference and Ohio Valley Athletic Conference matches await.
“On the bench we said that this was not a 4-13 team with the way Girard played,” Columbiana volleyball coach Jennifer Martin said. “We were really glad to play them because we feel it was a good way to prep for Thursday’s match at United. It was nice to get some good blocks and good swings up there. Their defense was really scrappy.”
Girard played a lineup that was all underclassmen, but it showed spurts of athletic ability and had leads in each game.
“It was a tough battle,” Columbiana senior Landry Smith said. “Just like United, they are a tough team.”
Smith, who has played on three straight EOAC championship teams, has gone 77-10 so far in her career as a Clipper. The captain was the only returning player on last season’s 19-5 team and has taken on the leadership role again this season.
“She has really stepped up,” Martin said. “Last year she was our only returning starter. She took the girls under her wing and the girls got it done last year, so we’re hoping again this year.”
Against Girard Smith had nine kills, three aces and eight points. She knows the Clippers have to play at a high level if they want to win their fourth straight EOAC title.
“There is pressure,” Smith said. “You never know. Anyone can beat anyone. You should never go into a game thinking you are automatically going to win because then you’re just going to play bad. I have to play to the best of my ability no matter who it is.”
United took Columbiana to five games in the first meeting on Sept. 8 and remains the only team to win games against Columbiana this season. The Clippers also have a 37-match league winning streak.
“The whole team needs to bring it at 110 percent,” Smith said about the United match. “One person can’t win the entire match.”
Junior middle hitter Addisyn Dangler also brought the hammer against the Indians. She posted seven kills and four points in the win.
“We’re getting ready (for that United match),” Dangler said. “We’re all excited. We’re all trying hard at practice and in games to be the best we can be.”
Columbiana might be in line for bigger goals than just the EOAC. The Clippers will be in the mix for the OVAC Class 3A title as they sit second in the standings behind Wheeling Central. United is third, so a third match between the Clippers and Eagles is not out of the question either.
On the tournament front, Columbiana has not won a district since 2003.
“Obviously I want to win the EOAC, but I want to win state. I want to go all the way,” Smith said.
Also contributing for the Clippers were Keagan Pruitt with seven kills, four points and 15 digs. Kaydynce Hamner had four kills and two digs. Adelaide Garrett had eight points and two aces with seven digs.
Eva Waller had 27 assists. Lily Jackson had seven digs.
Columbiana’s jayvees won 25-13, 25-20. That team is 12-0.
Riley Fisk had seven kills, four aces, 11 points and seven digs. Alaina Bailey added six kills and two digs. Annabelle Church had five kills, three aces, eight assists, eight points and three digs. Keegan Reynolds chipped in nine digs and three points.
Before Columbiana gets to United, it will host winless Valley Christian today.