Sheffield's Kassidy Orinko.

Top 10 Countdown No. 5: First Time in a Long Time

July 21, 2021

YourDailyLocal.com is counting down what we believe are the Top 10 moments/games/performances from the 2020-21 high school sports season in Warren County.

Full Top 10 List to date

No. 5: Sheffield Volleyball Caps Breakthrough Season with Playoff Win

The 2020 season was one of resurgence for the Sheffield Volleyball team.

The Lady Wolverines had their best year in more than five years with a 13-3 record. It was a season that included a 9-game win streak, and breakouts seasons from freshmen Kassidy Orinko (109 kills*) and Kadence Steffan (390 assists*).

Sheffield also reached the District 9 playoffs for the first time since 2014, and due to the format changes arising from response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lady Wolverines got to host their first round match against Clarion-Limestone.

The Lions and Wolverines put on quite a show for the limited fans in attendance, as the two teams battled for four sets.

Despite being the lower seed, C-L came out firing on all cylinders and, thanks in part to an 11-0 run, cruised to a 25-13 win in the first set.

Sheffield used a 9-0 run in the second set to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-15 win.

C-L jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the third set, but Sheffield outscored the Lions 15-6 to take a 23-18 lead. The Lions got back within a point, 24-23 before an Orinko kill gave Sheffield the set win and a 2-1 match advantage.

The fourth set was a true back-and-forth battle that featured seven lead changes. An 8-0 C-L run put the Lions up 13-8. Sheffield answered with an 8-0 run of its own to grab a 16-13 advantage. The Lions came back to tie the set at 16, but the Wolverines were able to maintain the lead, at least temporarily.

A pair of Orinko aces and a Lynzie Grubbs kill put the Wolverines up 21-16. C-L came back again to take the lead at 22-21. Sheffield took the lead for good at 23-22 and finished off the match with a 25-22 win.

While reaching the playoffs for the first time in six years was a major accomplishment, it paled in comparison to getting the win.

“Getting to the point where we got to, 13-3 in the regular season and getting to the playoffs which hadn’t happened since 2014 is a great accomplishment,” Sheffield coach Melissa Lemay said. “Winning a playoff game, which, I can’t remember how long it’s been. We went when I played, but we’re not going to say what year that was. I’m grateful.”

*Unofficial stats

         

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