McClain volleyball defeats Ironladies

The McClain varsity volleyball team got some sweet revenge Thursday night on their home floor when they defeated Jackson 3-1, avenging an earlier-season loss.

In game one, the Lady Tigers took the lead 15-13 midway through the set and won convincingly, 25-17. The second game of the match was much closer, with both teams having slim leads and a total of seven ties, before McClain prevailed 25-22 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Game three saw the Ironladies get out to an early lead, but McClain came back and grabbed a 9-7 advantage. Jackson came on strong later in the set and won easily, 25-16, cutting the Lady Tigers’ lead to 2-1.

In the fourth and final game of the match, it was a back-and-forth battle early on when McClain grabbed a 16-11 advantage and increased it to 20-14 moments later.

But the Ironladies fought back and were able to trim the deficit to 20-17 before the Lady Tigers regrouped and pulled away at the end to win 25-18 and take the match, 3-1.

“I thought we started out really well and played very aggressively early in the match,” McClain head coach Taylor Alsop said. “We did have a little letdown there in the third set but were able to get back on track in the fourth.”

The McClain girls seemed to come out really fired up wanting to win and kept their intensity level up throughout the match.

McClain’s front row players were superb at the net all match long, and the back row setters were just as impressive with several different girls having solid performances with some awesome digs.

“I’m proud of my entire team’s effort tonight,” said Alsop. “I thought we minimized our mistakes, and it was a total team effort.”

Individual stats for McClain: Serving-Madalyn Giffin 15-17, 3 aces; Lily Barnes 24-25, 2 aces; Kylea Toney 11-13, 2 aces. Serve receptions-Katie Cook 33-32, Harley Peabody 16-18, Madalyn Giffin 10-10. Attacks-Kylea Toney 15 kills, Anna Eikenberry 14 kills, Brenna Wright 13 kills, Katie Cook 19 digs, Lily Barnes 17 digs, Harley Peabody 9 digs, Sarah Easter 9 digs, Lily Barnes 37 assists.

McClain next plays Miami Trace at home Tuesday, Sept. 26, then hosts Chillicothe on Thursday, Sept. 28.