MIDDLEFIELD—Cardinal used a 6-0 run in the third set to steal the momentum in a 3-1 win over visiting Kirtland on Tuesday.
The Huskies won the first set, 25-23, dropped the second, 23-25, then went on to win the next two, 25-9 and 25-13, to improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
“That was huge,” said Cardinal coach Karisca Chambers. “We’ve been saying all season that we need to get the CVC title again and even though we’re looking at Berkshire, who is going to be a very tough team, we don’t overlook Kirtland. They’re always a good team. They always show up to play. It was a battle but the girls just did a good job.”
Cardinal led in the first set, 10-5, before Kirtland went on a run to take a 23-22 lead. The Huskies scored the final three points of the set to win the game. The Hornets also came back from an early deficit in game two, but managed to hold on to tie the match.
“We had the lead on them at the end of the first game and they just fought harder at the end,” said Kirtland coach Bob Schenosky. “I thought the first two games could have gone either way. Both teams did a terrific job. Both teams have some big hitters so it was a great match until we got to the third and fourth games.”
That’s when Caitlyn Lechene found her groove.
Lechene, who recorded a match-high 19 kills to go along with 23 digs and four blocks, dominated at the net to help the Huskies close out the match.
“Once Caitlyn Lechene got warmed up and ready to go she was hot; unstoppable,” Chambers said. “She takes control when she’s in the front row and her back row was just as solid as her front row.”
Jordyn Schultz added 11 kills, Haley Adams recorded a career-high 10 kills and Maddie Bean had four for the Huskies.
“That’s pretty evenly spread across the chart,” Chambers said.
Bean also recorded 41 assists, 10 digs and four aces. Megan Zeigler had 24 digs.
Sam Bailey led Kirtland with five kills while Olivia Mancisio added four and six blocks. Taylor Frazee recorded 22 digs in the match.
“Olivia is doing a great job at the net,” Schenosky said. “She had some great kills today. I thought our setters did a nice job and Taylor has done a nice job in the front and the back. She’s leading us in digs and serve receptions, so that’s somebody we can count on all the way around.”
