Independence on Saturday suffered its first loss of the season in a 2-1 setback to St. Joseph Academy in the championship game of the Renee Roche Invitational but the Blue Devils bounced back on Monday with a 3-0 sweep of visiting Perry.
The Blue Devils improved to 13-1.
“I was happy the team bounced back from a loss over the weekend,” said Independence coach Megan Osysko. “We are ready to get back to work in the second half of the season and see what we can accomplish.”
Senior Maura Collins, a University of Dayton commitment, accomplished plenty in Monday’s win over the Pirates. She recorded nine digs, including the 1,000th of her career.
“Maura has been a huge asset to the program the last four years,” Osysko said. “Volleyball is a team sport, but having individual goals is important as well. Maura has always put the team’s needs over her own, and we are happy she is able to accomplish these in her final year as a Lady Devil.”
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A four-year letter winner and first-team All-Ohioan, Collins also was named an Under Armour All-American finalist and a Prep Volleyball Defensive Dandy.
“I owe a thank you to Coach Osysko for nominating me for both of those,” Collins said. “It means a lot to be recognized nationally on those lists. It feels really good to have my hard work noted.”
Collins recorded 236 digs as a freshman, 340 as a sophomore and 308 as a junior. She entered Monday’s game against the Pirates needing just three digs to reach 1,000 for her career.
“My favorite part of the game has always been defense, that’s my passion,” Collins said. “It’s been my goal since I was a freshman on the court, so to finally reach 1,000 digs is a really good feeling.”
Collins also contributed to the win with a team-high 13 kills, two assists, an ace and a block.
Grace Smotek led the Blue Devils with four aces while Lexi Prokopius posted a team-high four blocks. Maddy Bilinovic recorded 23 digs in the win.
“Obviously, we always want to win, but to lose to a very good Division I program that was in the state final four last year is definitely a learning opportunity and that’s how we’re taking it,” Collins said of the loss to St. Joseph Academy. “We want to move forward and dominate more matches, but we have to look at that match in order to beat teams of that skill level and height.”
The Blue Devils travel to Wickliffe on Wednesday.
