BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
ROME — Canton volleyball bounced back Thursday as they defeated NEB, 3-0, during NTL Small School action.
The Warriors used a strong serving game to get the win, highlighted by Cailyn VanNoy serving 23 straight points to open the first set.
“She was on the money, and she definitely was focused tonight,” said Canton coach Jackie Thompson. “She was very aggressive, moved the ball around - that was a very big help, for sure.”
Canton won the first set 25-3, but NEB rallied in the second set though the Warriors prevailed 25-21.
Canton then took the final set 25-11.
“We really struggled in serve receive (against Wellsboro), and so they’re definitely making steps on serve receive,” said Thompson. “We definitely served a lot more aggressively tonight, and that’s what I typically see out of this group, so that was very helpful.”
VanNoy finished with 32 points, 12 aces, six kills, and six digs for Canton with Nevaeh Vroman getting nine points, two aces, 10 assists, and three digs.
Adelynn Cardona had 10 points, five aces, two digs, and one block, while Tara Gilbert had nine points, four aces, and two digs.
Danah Wesneski had four points, three kills, six assists, and two digs, with Makenna Seachrist adding four kills.
Alyssa May notched an assist with two digs, as Kaybree Kendall added two points, and four digs.
After getting the first match jitters out in the opening set NEB started strong in the second, taking a 6-1 lead.
Canton rallied, scoring 11 of the next 12 points to go up 12-7.
The Panthers came back, making it 17-16 at one point, but three straight from the Warriors gave them some breathing room.
NEB would get one more push, making it a 2-point set at one point, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
The Warriors jumped out early in the third set and never looked back.
Canton won the JV match 25-17, 25-17.
Raya Preston had six aces, three digs, and three assists, as Hannah Walters finished with six aces, one kill, two digs, and two assists.
Brenna VanNoy notched two aces, four kills, one dig, and one assist, with Emilia Pepper getting one ace, three kills, and four digs.
Amelia Pepper had an ace, a kill, and three digs, as Nayeli Strozyk adding an ace, a kill, and one dig.
Lindley Sechrist had a kill with a dig, while Lexi McMurray added three aces, and Jericka Strozyk notched two digs.
NEB travels to Mountain View on Saturday while Canton is off to CV next Thursday.
“Our biggest focus has been serve receive,” Thompson said. “We just are a little bit less confident in serve receive, and we really need to gain that confidence back there - and defense. We’re always a defense minded team, and to me, that’s the best place to focus most of your time.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
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