Brian Hagberg
SHEFFIELD, Pa. – The Wolverines and Rovers battled through four sets, and in the end, Sheffield came away with a 3-1 (25-23, 17-25, 26-24, and 25-22) win over visiting Brockway.
Brockway appeared to have all the momentum after pulling away in the second set and jumping to a 10-3 lead to start the third. The Wolverines clawed their way back in it, won the set in extra points, and held off the Rovers in the fourth to win the match.
Rewatch the match:
“We gave Kassidy (Orinko) a few sets, she got some kills, and we got the energy back up,” Sheffield’s Emily Foster said. “It got too close at times, but we ended up bringing in the energy back up and got the win.”
See Foster’s full postgame interview:
Neither team was able to gain a clear advantage through the first set. Sheffield went on a couple of short runs that gave them three or four-point leads, but Brockway fought back to keep the score within striking distance. The Rovers took a 23-22 lead but kills from Lexi Goldthwaite and Orinko gave the Wolverines set point. Goldthwaite served an ace to close out the first set win.
The teams played to a 9-9 tie in the second set. Brockway then went on an 8-1 run to take control of the set. Sheffield never got closer than five points the rest of the way as the Rovers tied the match at one set each.
Brockway was able to carry that momentum into the early part of the third set. Sophia Schmader served consecutive aces to start the set as the Rovers scored the first four points on their way to a 10-3 advantage. Sheffield responded with a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 11-8.
The Wolverines got within a point several times throughout the set, but the Rovers had an answer each time to extend the lead. An Orinko block tied the set at 19-19, and her kill on the next point gave Sheffield its first lead at 20-19. Brockway answered right back to regain a 21-20 advantage.
The Rovers got to set point, 24-22, but an Orinko kill and ace tied it at 24-24. A pair of Foster kills put the set away and gave Sheffield a 2-1 lead in the match.
In the fourth set, Sheffield got out to the early lead and was up 17-12 at one point. Brockway closed the gap to 22-20 and forced the Wolverines to call a timeout with a 23-22 advantage. A Foster kill gave Sheffield match point, and an unforced error on the final point ended the match.
Lauren Rendos led the Rovers with eight kills, 10 digs, and two aces. Schmader served eight aces to go along with four digs and a kill, while Kalina Powell served six aces and had 13 digs. Savannah Ross ran the offense with 10 assists and had two kills, four digs, and two aces, and Stephanie Stage had six digs and a kill.
Orinko and Foster each had a double-double for Sheffield. Orinko finished with 15 kills, 11 digs, and three blocks. Foster had 12 kills, 14 digs, and three blocks to earn Allegheny Grille of Foxburg Player of the Game honors.
Peyton Wotorson had seven kills and Kadence Steffan had 38 assists and 15 digs.
Sheffield won the junior varsity match 25-10 and 25-6.
Emma Roell had 17 straight serves in the second set and had 15 aces on the night.
The Wolverines are back home on Saturday as they host their annual tournament.
