KIRTLAND— Kirtland’s volleyball team continues to show steady growth, and Wednesday night’s 26-24, 25-16, 24-26, 25-12 victory over visiting Rootstown was the latest example of a group learning how to close out tough matches.
The Hornets found themselves in an early hole in the opening set but clawed back to steal it late. After a commanding second set and a stumble in the third, Kirtland regrouped in dominant fashion to seal the match and take another step forward in its season-long climb.
“Our defense and serving have gotten a lot stronger and shown a lot of growth,” said head coach Ricky Sanders. “It’s getting stronger each game that we play, the girls are communicating well, and we got our defensive specialist, Willa Gordon, back, and we really needed her tonight.”
Rootstown jumped ahead 16-10 in the first set before Kirtland battled back to tie it at 18. Down 24-22, the Hornets showed poise, getting kills from Ellie Spencer, Silvia Ingram, and two from Karli DiFranco to complete the comeback, 26-24.
Set two belonged to Kirtland. Trailing 13-11, the Hornets ripped off a 14-3 run and never looked back in a 25-16 win to grab a 2-0 lead.
Rootstown wasn’t about to fold. With Colbie Curall powering four kills and two blocks, the Rovers erased an 8-3 Kirtland lead and stole the third set, 26-24.
That proved to be their last push. Kirtland dominated set four from the start, riding its front-line energy to a 25-12 clincher and a 3-1 match victory.
The Hornets’ offense ran through Spencer, but Ingram and Matea Vujica proved just as valuable in balancing the attack. Ingram tallied six blocks and five kills, while Vujica chipped in seven kills and five blocks to anchor both sides of the net.
“(Silvia and Matea) put it together tonight,” Sanders said. “Everything we do runs through Ellie, and we’ll go as far as she takes us, and when she’s on point, everybody else can get in their time to shine because the focus turns to her. Everything else falls into place.”
Spencer finished with 20 kills, DiFranco added 10, and Andriana Grman directed the offense with 23 assists and three service aces.
For Sanders, the progress is clear. With Gordon back on the floor and the Hornets past the halfway mark of the season, the team is rounding into form just in time for a critical stretch.
“That Chagrin Falls game shocked us,” Sanders said. “It put us into a different mindset of what we needed to do, because we battle with Berkshire every year (for the conference title), so it’s us or them. But, now with Chagrin Falls getting into the mix, and they’re looking really good right now, we have to find a way and try to even it out with them tomorrow.”
Rootstown, meanwhile, is navigating life in its new league after moving from the Portage Trail Conference to the Chagrin Valley Conference.
“This league is a lot different for us. It’s a lot quicker, faster pace for us,” said Rootstown head coach Dana Tingler. “Sometimes in the PTC, not all of the teams in the conference had volleyball teams, so we had to play a lot of non-league games, and getting those in was tough. We’re going to get used to it. Once we start seeing it more, the better we’re going to be.”
Curall led the Rovers with 11 blocks and 10 kills. Ella Hayn chipped in seven kills, Alyx Burrell added three blocks, and Sophia Byers recorded four kills and two blocks.
The loss dropped Rootstown to 8-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while Kirtland climbed to 11-3 and 3-2. The Hornets now gear up for a marquee home matchup on Sept. 24 against league-leading Chagrin Falls. Rootstown will travel to Crestwood to face a familiar former PTC rival.
