CARLISLE — It would have been easier for the Perry volleyball team to take the quick route out and simply fold after falling into an 0-2 hole against host Carlisle Thursday, but the Jayettes had other ideas.
Having lost game one, 25-22, and game two, 25-21, Perry rallied to score a 25-17 win in game three. The Jayettes recorded a 25-20 win in the fourth game to force a fifth set, but the Wildcats were able to stem the bleeding and grabbed the Raccoon River Conference match victory with a 15-10 win.
“We missed some serves in key moments,” Perry head coach Kristel Schultz said, “but I was happy to see them compete in the third and fourth sets.”
Perry (9-17, 0-6) was playing without junior starter Grace Marburger, who is sidelined with a right wrist injury that could be season-ending.
Jo Diw and Ellie Nielsen had 15 kills apiece to lead Perry, with Victoria Hegstrom and Adrian Thompson tallying six kills apiece and Taylor Lathrum five. Sidney Vancil distributed 42 assists to spark the offense.
Diw served 23-of-25 with two aces, with Thompson 20-24-3 and Hegstrom 17-20-2 behind the line. The defense was led by Nielsen, who had 12 digs, and by Vancil and Diw, who had seven and six digs, respectively.
Perry will play in the Knoxville Invitational Saturday before hosting Greene County Monday for Senior Night. The regular season will conclude Thursday with a visit to Boone.
Great effort!