PEPPER PIKE—A balanced attack helped the Army sink the Navy, 3-1, in the 2019 Ohio Varsity Senior Slam at Ursuline College on Sunday.
While Brooklyn senior Jaden Walz, who was named the Ohio Varsity Volleyball Player of the year during the event, recorded match-highs with 14 kills and 16 digs for the Navy, the Army All-Stars used a team approach to seal its win, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22.
Grand Valley’s Barbara Jackson, the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year, and North’s Julia Kerns led Army with nine kills each and North’s Dhvani Patel recorded a team-best 15 digs. Beachwood’s Cassidy Gilliam turned in a strong performance with a team-high nine assists and she also finished with eight kills and seven digs. North’s Olivia Oostdyk led the Army with three service aces.
Walz was impressive in the Navy’s setback.
In addition to leading the event in kills and digs, she also added six assists and a service ace.
West Geauga’s Sarah Koach finished second on the Navy with seven kills and Mayfield’s Maddie Sentle finished behind Walz with 11 digs and also led the squad with three service aces. Kirtland’s Abby Ruckel led the Navy with seven assists.
North’s Tamara Heller coached the Army while Kirtland’s Arlayna Newcomer led the Navy.
Full Stats
Army
- Aces: Olivia Oostdy 3, Rylie Pucel 2, Amanda Schultz 1, Dhvani Patel 1, Cassidy Gilliam 1
- Assists: Cassidy Gilliam 9, Rylie Pucel 7, Candace Woodward 1
- Digs: Dhvani Patel 15, Julia Kerns 7, Cassidy Gilliam 7, Rylie Pucel 6, Taylor Soltis 6, Amanda Schultz 6, Katie Mendenhall 5, Candace Woodward 5, Barbara Jackson 2, Andrea Mack 2, Olivia Oostdyk 1
- Kills: Barbara Jackson 9, Julia Kerns 9, Cassidy Gilliam 8, Andrea Mack 6, Katie Mendenhall 5, Amanda Schultz 4, Rylie Pucel 2, Olivia Oostdyk 2, Taylor Soltis 1
Marines
- Aces: Maddie Sentle 3, Lauren Vrban 2, Abby Ruckel 2, Jordan Vencill 2, Jaden Walz 1, Isabella Gembus 1
- Assists: Abby Ruckel 7, Jaden Walz 6, Elizabeth Lesco 1, Sarah Koach 1
- Digs: Jaden Walz 16, Maddie Sentle 11, Elizabeth Lesco 10, Abby Ruckel 9, Jordan Vencill 6, Hannah Babbitt 5, Isabella Gembus 4, Lauren Vrban 3, Sarah Koach 2
- Kills: Jaden Walz 14, Sarah Koach 7, Anna Lewis 6, Jordan Vencill 6, Abby Ruckel 2, Isabella Gembus 2
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