NTL VOLLEYBALL: NEB SWEEPS WYALUSING, CLINCHES PROGRAM'S FIRST NTL TITLE (2023-10-23)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — History was made on Monday night as Northeast Bradford swept Wyalusing, 3-0, to earn the NTL Division-II volleyball title outright, their first title in program history.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said libero Kiarra DeLancey. “This isn’t really something that we thought of when we first started playing together, we all started playing really young. Then, after the end of last year, we really saw how much potential we had as a team, and we knew we were going to have a good season. So, to go through it and have as a successful season as we did, and to be NTL champs for the first time is insane.”

Kelsea Moore just started playing volleyball last year but has felt at home on the court.

“I’m just so proud of my team…so, so proud,” she said. “I love my team, and I think we played so well this season. We’ve definitely built relationships, and for us to win, and make history, is pretty exciting.”

For their coach Vanessa Perez, she knows how much hard work this group has put in over the past three seasons.

“I’m excited for them,” she said. “They really wanted it. As a coach, it’s always good.”

They held the Rams to just 28 total points over the three sets, winning them 25-8, 25-6, and 25-14.

Abby O’Connor had 13 kills on the day to go with two aces, while Toni Herb notched seven kills, one dig, and three aces.

Emma Neuber had three kills, three digs, one assist, and three aces, with Gabby Susanj getting 21 assists, and four aces.

Moore had five aces, and six digs on the day, as DeLancey finished with eight digs, and an assist. 

Adrian Chobot had two digs, as Abby Chobot notched two kills with a block.

For the Rams, Kylie Pickett had two kills, five assists, and four digs, as Gabby Manahan had three kills, and six digs.

Emily Johns had a kill with two digs, Rachel Wilson had a kill, a block, and three digs, and Addison Fluck had a kill, an ace, and four digs.

Madalyn Broschart notched a kill with a dig, as Josie Ferris had four assists, and three digs. Clare Allen and SaEva Manahan had three digs each, as Danielle Wilson and Trinity Watkins had two digs apiece.

There were no butterflies for the Panthers at the start as they rattled off the first nine points of the opening set en route to their 17 point win.

“I feel like we’ve been playing together all season, and we already played Wyalusing,” explained DeLancey. “There was more pressure because of the NTL, but I think we kind of knew we were going to take it tonight.”

The second set was tight early, until Susanj served up three straight points to put the Panthers up 6-2. After some more back and forth Moore took over, serving up 15 straight points to carry the second set.

“It felt really good, because as soon as I miss a serve I’m subbed out,” said Moore. “I was proud of myself for staying in there, and not missing any of my serves.”

In the third set it O’Connor’s turn, serving up five straight points early to help the Panthers take an 11-3 lead, and they carried it out from there.

“These titles mean a lot,” Perez said. “It’s totally based on record, so we had to play well all year.”

With one match left in the season the Panthers went 9-0 in the division and 14-1 in the league, just ahead of second place Williamson (7-1, 10-3).

Wyalusing did pull out the JV match 2-1. They won the first set 25-16, NEB won the second set 25-21, and then the Rams eked out a win in the third set 15-13.

Looking forward NEB will get a possibly district preview as they host Williamson Tuesday, then won’t play until the district semifinals next week.

“We’re just going to focus on playing our game,” said DeLancey. “On playing clean, and staying together as a team, and keeping each other up. Just playing our best and playing together.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: NEB celebrates after beating Wyalusing…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING