Not even a month ago, Perry’s volleyball team suffered a stunning 3-0 loss to visiting Lakeside.
The Pirates, who shared the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division title last season, avenged that loss with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Dragons at Lakeside on Tuesday.
“The win was exciting for all players and coaches, there were even tears of joy after the match,” Perry coach Mike Fitzgerald said. “It’s a huge confidence booster to beat a team that previously shut you out 3-0 and is also undefeated on the season. The match was full of ups and downs but definitely packed with excitement.”
Lakeside, who dropped to 11-1 on the season, took control of the match early.
The Dragons cruised to a 25-17 win in the first set but Perry rallied to win the second, 25-19.
Lakeside dominated the third, 25-11, to take a commanding 2-1 lead.
“Being down 2-1 is always tough, especially after only scoring 11 in the third set,” Fitzgerald said. “There was a discussion in the huddle about how bad the girls wanted this win. Mental toughness is a word commonly used in sports and volleyball and I think every player, including our sitting players, dug deep and gave it everything they had to pull out the win. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Perry pulled out a 25-17 win to force the decisive fifth set.
The Pirates and Dragons traded points for most of the set and Lakeside pulled to with 14-13 before Sammie DiBease sealed Perry’s win with a ball-flattening kill.
DiBease recorded a team-high 18 kills with 24 digs, five service aces, three assists and a block in the win. Mary Bjorksten added 12 kills, 10 digs and an ace.
“It was definitely a team win, but if I had to pick out those that made a difference, I would mention a few,” Fitzgerald said. “Sammie DiBease and Mary Bjorksten led our offense at the outside spots. It’s hard to lose if both outsides are hitting well.”
Perry also received key contributions from Maddy Lambdin, who recorded eight blocks and four kills with no attack errors, Grace Desborough, who finished with 18 digs and was 43 out of 45 in serve receptions, and Cara Vitale, with her 17 assists, 12 digs, two aces and a block.
“Maddy Lambdin was a beast at the middle spot,” Fitzgerald said. “Our passers also did a phenomenal job. Libero Grace Desborough dug deep and was picking up virtually anything that came her way. Sophomore Jaedyn Neimanis is a libero/defensive specialist for our JV team but she was brought in to assist with passing in this match with Lakeside due to our passers struggling in our last meeting. Jaedyn passed error-free in the three sets she played.”
The Pirates, who improved to 6-4, host Kirtland on Wednesday.
