NTL VOLLEYBALL: CANTON REBOUNDS AFTER LOSS, BEATS WYALUSING 3-0 (2021-10-19)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
WYALUSING — Whatever caused Canton to play poorly and lose at Williamson last Saturday was exorcised from their system by Tuesday night, as they defeated a hot Wyalusing squad 3-0 in NTL volleyball action.

“It felt wonderful,” said Canton’s Aislyn Williams. “Especially to know that we can have a rough game like that, and bounce back, and be a good team.”

The Warriors rolled to wins of 25-11 and 25-16 in the first two sets, but the Rams made them work hard for the third set. At one point Wyalusing led 24-23, but it was Canton pulling out the 26-24 win to close out the match.

“It’s a nice confidence booster going into Thursday,” Canton’s Keri Wesneski said. “It was an eye opener going from Saturday to today, and realizing how hard it takes to work as a team. I honestly feel like the loss was needed to get it out of the way.”

The Rams were winners of six straight coming into the match, including a 3-1 win over Williamson last Thursday, who edged out Canton in a five-set match last weekend. 

But it was Canton taking control early, and played more like the team that swept Williamson earlier in the year, and took NP-Liberty to five sets.

“We talked more, our defense flowed better, and I just think we played as a team better,” noted Williams.

She finished with six points, 10 kills, 12 digs and three blocks for Canton, as Wesneski had 11 points, two aces, three kills, and five digs.

Her serving was also key, as she served the final two points of the third set to seal the win.

“It’s nice to know that I can contribute to the team,” remarked Wesneski.

Allyson Butcher had 15 points, two aces, one kill, 16 assists, and 11 digs, as Trisha Gilbert posted 13 points, two aces, four kills, one assist, and seven digs.

Jillaney Hartford had three kills, and four blocks, with Marissa Ostrander adding five points, two aces, one assist, and nine digs, and Rachel Martin getting eight points, one ace, two kills, two assists, and one dig.

For Wyalusing it ends any outside chance they had pulling out a league title, but they won't have to see Canton again this season, as the two teams will be in different classes come districts.

Emilee Otis had 13 assists, one ace, and three digs for the Rams, while Priscilla Newton finished with 15 digs, and an ace.

London Edwards had four kills, and 11 digs, while Hannah Ely had two kills, and two aces.

Sage Superko notched four kills, Karissa Brown had three kills, Anna Kipp chipped in with two kills, and Reanne Rodriguez finished with 10 digs.

If the first two games were strongly in Canton’s favor, the third was up in the air throughout.

Wyalusing jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but it was the Warriors coming back to tie it up at 12-12. They appeared to take control over the next seven points, taking an 18-13 lead.

The Rams, though, would rattle off five straight points to tie it up at 18-all.

Tied at 19, Canton once again went on a spurt, scoring three straight points to go up 22-19.

Wyalusing wasn’t done, though, as, after trading points, the Rams went on a four point rally of their own to go up 24-23.

Needing just one point to force a fourth set, it was Williams getting a key block to tie things up at 24-all.

Wesneski then had an ace to put the Warriors up 25-24. On the last point a Wyalusing kill was called out - though the Rams felt it was tipped - to make it a 26-24 final.

Canton won the JV match 25-9, and 25-12.

Maddie Hulbert had five aces, three digs, two assists, and a kill, as Hannah Kendall finished with three aces, three digs, and two kills.

Mae Kinner had an ace, two digs, and three kills, Addi Pepper notched an ace, two digs, five assists, and two kills, and Gabby Spencer had an ace, three digs, and two kills.

Ostrander finished with five aces, three digs, one assist, and one kill, while Wesneski had three digs.

Canton (10-2) sits one game ahead of Williamson in the loss column for the NTL Division-II title. In the division all that stands in their way are one match against CV, and two against NEB, as they travel to the Panthers on Thursday.

Wyalusing will look to rebound at Sayre on Thursday, before hosting Williamsport on Saturday.

PHOTO CAPTION: Marissa Ostrander goes for a dig against Wyalusing…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING