After a feeling out process that kept the opening set initially close, Mansfield brought out the big sticks to beat back the Lincoln Wolves in volleyball action. On a Thursday roadtrip, the varsity Tigers collared the Wolves 25-14, 25-10 and 25-13 to keep atop the 3A-1 conference unscathed.
The usual suspects for Mansfield kept the dog bites at bay. Kaylee Ward, Adeline Godwin and Miley Clopton kept the pressure on with pounding plays above the net. Abby Smith, Daisy Nelson and Whitley Boyd covered all parts of the court. Bailey Quick had long service rallies. Kerrington Quick kept feeding the monster hitters in the middle with Danielle Lowery and Ward making the most of those chances.
“Tonight’s game against Lincoln was electric,” offered Mansfield assistant coach Brandi Heydenreich after the Lady Tigers played inside the Lincoln palace-like gymnasium known as the Wolves Den. “We really clicked as a team and the chemistry was undeniable.”
Mansfield head coach Kaylie Pyles was busy taking care of post game duties. However, she was within close proximity of the conversation that was taking place in regard to Mansfield's play. Her physical reactions indicated she was in agreement with her assistant’s assessment.
Count the chemistry characteristic as one of the foundational pieces this Lady Tiger team has displayed with regularity. Since the season began on August 19 with a benefit game against Ozark, Mansfield’s rotating nine have found their roles.
Through eight games they have had only one hiccup - a non-conference slide at Pottsville to start this past week. Yet, that setback did little to dampen the Tigers’ spirit as they moved forward into the week. In fact, their next two contests saw a pair of conference victories keep Mansfield in the lead six-sevenths of the way through the first leg of the round robin.
As for the nightcap at Lincoln, Heydenreich found something positive to say about each of the players rotating through the Tiger lineup. Once again, Pyles from her position still within earshot of the conversation was nodding with approval as their obviously shared opinions matched.
“Kaylee Ward was the driving force of our offense with multiple kills,” the first chair assistant said. “Adeline Godwin and Miley Clopton followed right behind her. Bailey Quick had a solid serving run with multiple points scored in the second set.”
In that second stanza, Mansfield enjoyed a sequence where they continued to double up the Wolves in exchanging sideouts. Differentials starting at an 8-3 Mansfield advantage bantered about until a Smith kill punctuated a ride to 17-8 in favor of the Tigers. At 18-11 there was a bit more back and forth scoring volleys between the two teams with Lowery and Godwin providing the fireworks for Mansfield near the end of the second period bonanza.
Smith, Godwin, Ward and Clopton found the front line their domain during the first set to get the party started. An 8-8 tie constituting that feeling out process mentioned earlier, quickly turned into a rout with aggressive sets and power plays by the Tigers. From that early opening tie, MHS surged to 17-8. After giving up only two more points in the set to the Wolves, Mansfield accelerated with a Clopton thriller to the deep corner for the 25-10 win.
“Abby Smith, Daisy Nelson and Whitley Boyd were all over the court defensively,” pointed out Heydenreich. “Kerrington Quick provided multiple assists to middle blocker Danielle Lowery.”
Much of the same Mansfield dominance highlighted the third set as the home crowd tired in desperation to rally their on court Wolves. The Tigers paid little attention to all the barking. They continued their calm and coordination in a business like manner.
The Tiger visitors were indeed electric, racing out to a 15-2 margin before coasting in the final sequence to end the match. Ward made sure Lincoln felt her wrath with a few more blockbusters fired down from high above the net. Her last kill came at 23-10. Godwin served out the rest of the set for the 25-10 door closer.
“Overall, it was a great night with wins all around for the seventh grade, junior “A”, senior junior varsity and varsity,” exclaimed Heydenreich of the night’s complete sweep.
The junior Tigers did shine with Bentley Hoover and Kinlee Winters mashing the volleyball from the middle and left side respectively. Allie Hattabaugh and Vivi Sylva both had nice kills at the net. Hattabaugh was excellent as well from the back row making reliable passes to the setter.
Ava Elmore, Lillianna Porter and Addalee Hattabaugh were efficient with the pass as well. All made setter Ellah Heydenreich’s job all the more easy. To her credit, Ellah Heydenreich put up effective target sets to Jaiden Black, Hoover, Allie Hattabaugh and Winters on a consistent basis.
Mansfield’s junior squad mirrors the high school with similar overall and conference records. The tape measure reads 7-1 overall and 6-0 conference for both teams.
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