Hillsboro sweeps county rival McClain in three sets

     After battling into extra points in the second set Tuesday night at Hillsboro High School, the HHS Lady Indians continued to use the momentum in the third set, as they defeated cross-county rival McClain in three sets to earn their first South Central Ohio League win of the season.

     The win was Hillsboro's third in a row, as they took two matches Monday night against West Union and Western Latham.

     But on Tuesday night, the Lady Indians didn’t back down, going punch-for-punch with the Lady Tigers.

     “We gained some confidence after our two wins Monday,” Hillsboro coach Ron Garner said. “Tonight (Tuesday) we put it all together. We reduced mental mistakes and beat them with consistent effort.”

     Hillsboro won by scores of 25-18, 30-28 and 25-11 for the league win.

     The set of the match was the second set, with it being tied 14 times.

     After the first tie of 1-1 in the second set, McClain senior Kate Hammond tipped the ball over the net for the lead. But quickly, the score was tied 2-2 off a hit from Mallori Ferguson, of Hillsboro.

     Hillsboro senior Shaylyn Sluss, along with senior Hannah Patton, helped bring the Lady Indians even at 8-8, and then HHS took the lead at 9-8.

     Patton increased the HHS advantage to 11-8 with a powerful spike. Senior Holly Fouch continued to keep HHS in the lead with a tip. HHS junior A.J. Sanders gave HHS a 13-10 lead with a block.

     MHS came back within two points with a hit from Hammond. MHS tied the game at 14 when senior Megan Saylor blasted a shot to the side of Hillsboro.

     Hammond tied the second set at 16, but Sluss gave HHS the lead, going air borne, with a leaping blast.

     Things kept getting interesting late in the set with the score continually tied, as neither team could put the other away.

     McClain senior Taylor Delph scored points late, one coming off a serve. Patton tied the set at 23. HHS took the lead 24-23 with an ace by Sluss.

     Delph brought the set even at 25 and again at 26 with timely hits. Junior Kelsey Davis gave MHS the lead at 27-26 with a block at the net.

     Again the score was tied at 27, then at 28 as Sluss and Saylor tied the set for their respective teams.

     The game-winning point came from a block by Patton for the 30-28 set win.

     In the second set Saylor scored six points. Delph scored seven points set two. Fouch had four points in set two, and Sluss led all scorers in the second set with 11 points.

     “Overall we beat ourselves,” McClain coach Emma Gall said. “Not to take anything away from Hillsboro, they played a good game, but our passing wasn’t there. We had good hits and serving, but passing is essential to volleyball.”

     The first set went in favor of Hillsboro at 25-18. Fouch scored 13 points in the first set.

     The third set was tied at 5-5, 9-9 and 10-10. Sluss ended the final set, with serves that were hit out of bounds for five of the last seven points scored by HHS, as the Lady Indians won the third set 25-11.

     Fouch scored eight points in the third set, with Sluss scoring a set-high 13.

     “Our serving was strong all night,” Garner said. “We looked like a different team, and played like we are capable of playing. I can’t single anyone out, everyone played well.”

     For McClain, Saylor led the Lady Tigers with 14 kills. Delph gained nine digs and seven kills. Hammond finished with five digs and four kills.

     “Taylor (Delph) did a good job,” Gall said. “She was all over the court.”

     On Monday the Lady Tigers defeated Paint Valley in three sets at McClain High School.

     The win improves HHS to 5-11 overall.

     The Lady Tigers stand at 10-6 overall, 3-4 in the SCOL.

     In JV play, HHS won in two sets.

     MHS will host London Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

     HHS is at Miami Trace Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.