Northern Tier Sports ReportTOWANDA — Towanda took care of business on senior night, sweeping NEB 3-0 in NTL volleyball action Monday as they set up a do-or-die match with defending district champions Wellsboro with a playoff berth on the line.
Towanda won the set 25-13, 25-8, and 25-14.
“The girls knew that coming into tonight that this was a big one we had,” said Towanda coach Cassie Smith. “We have to win out just to secure that spot, so they knew that this was first on the priority list - get that win and tomorrow’s another day, so we’ve got to get back to work.”
They travel to the Hornets on Tuesday, a team that beat them in five sets in Towanda earlier this season.
“These girls have proven all season long that they can hang with these teams,” said Smith. “I’ve known this since I’ve been at a head coaching position, these girls can win, and I’m excited to see what they do tomorrow.”
The first set was tight early on as NEB kept it close, tying it up at 11-11 at one point. Towanda then out scored them 14-2 the rest of the way.
The Knights jumped out early and never looked back in the second set, and in the third set they kept the Panthers at arm’s length before pulling away.
LilyAnn Sproule had 19 points, six aces, five kills, and three digs for Towanda as Karis Flynn notched 21 points, six aces, one kill, 21 assists, and two digs.
Brooklyn Evans had 12 kills, five digs, four points, and two aces, with Caedence Wells getting one point, one ace, one kill, and three digs.
Kaya Johnson had five kills and four points, as Brynsen Vargason notched three digs, with a point.
Kendall Kellogg had an ace and a kill, Nozila Ismailova added two digs, Lariah Long notched two kills, and Layla Longcoy finished with one dig.
For NEB Orissa Gardner had five aces, six points, two digs, and two kills, as Ella Cooley notched two points, three digs, three assists, and one ace.
Brianna Pelka had two kills with a point, while Jaylin Wheaton finished with a kill, and two digs.
Allie Kuhn had a kill, a point, and three digs, as Nevaeh Potter finished with four digs, and two points. Cheyenne Mahoney added two digs with an assist.
Towanda won the JV match 25-12 and 25-17.
Ali Hollett had six points, three aces, six assists, and a kill with Addy Barrett getting 10 points, eight aces, five kills, and one block.
Emma Space had six points, four aces, and a kill, while Sadie Overpeck finished with three assists, one point, and one ace.
Molly Roberts had four points with an ace as London Decker notched three kills, two points, two aces, and a dig.
Lennon Rice had two points with an ace, Kellogg finished with two kills, Samantha Hartigan and Paige Buchanan each had a dig, as Mackenzie Young added two points with an ace.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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