However, how fast things can change. After losing the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-13, the homesteading Big Reds stormed back to take the next three by scores of 25-18, 26-24 and 15-13 in an exciting match before a small, but very vocal crowd inside the “House of Champions” on Guernsey Street.

“In the first two sets we had tons of errors … hitting errors, serving errors,” Vavrek said. “I showed the girls the stat sheets and told them we gave those first two games away. We picked it up some in the second set and started setting up people. We got some energy and were diving all over the place for balls.

“Our effort was outstanding.”

She said this win is something that her team can build on.

“We return almost everyone from last year. We’ve got nine starters back from last year when we went on a long winning streak down the stretch. The girls got that experience and now they’re back and they’re ready to go.”

“It was definitely unforced errors on our part, as well as inconsistency,” Shadyside head coach Eric Mercer said of the difference between the first two sets and the final three. “We’ve struggled with the latter all through our practices and scrimmages. We have some nice highs, but then we have the lows we struggle to get out of them.

“Overall, we’re a pretty young team. That’s part of the learning process,” he added. “We’ve got to be able to fight out of the dips and get back on the highs and stay there. It was a good match.”

The Tigers went up 2-0 as they snapped a 4-all deadlock in the first set with 10 of the next 14 points to build a 15-7 lead en route to a 25-20 nod.

In the second set, the teams were knotted at 5-all before the Tigers tallied 10 of the next 11 points to take a 15-6 advantage. They led 20-13 before going on a 5-0 run to end things.

Bellaire, which led just once in the first two sets, broke a 6-all deadlock early in the third set and used several mini runs to secure a 25-18 win.

The fourth set was knotted a dozen times – the last at 24 – before the Big Reds went up 25-24 after a long volley. A stuff by Gianna Schmidt drew the hosts even at two sets a piece.

In the deciding fifth set, Bellaire broke out to a 5-0 lead behind the serving of Brooklynn Zonker and play at the net by Schmidt and Zara Harveth.

Shadyside drew to within 5-4 but a 6-1 run by the hosts bumped the count to 11-5 after a tip by Gracelynn Maupin.

Three straight tips by three different Tigers made it 11-8 before the teams traded points with the Big Reds clinging to a 14-10 advantage.

Shadyside pulled to within 14-13 when Bellaire was called for hitting the ball four times, but a vicious slam by Schmidt sealed the deal.

“We didn’t play well in the third set,” Mercer admitted. “In the fourth set, we gave them a lead and then got it back. I really thought we were going to win that set, but little things down the stretch didn’t go our way. When you go to the fifth set, you never know what’s going to happen.”

Bellaire was led on the stat sheet by Schmidt with 15 kills and two dozen digs. Harveth added 10 kills and 22 digs, while Zonker contributed eight kills and Sidney Rowson 19 digs. Maupin finished with 25 assists and five aces. Ava Marinacci had 16 assists and five aces.

Leading the Tigers was Gentry Brown with 18 kills, 13 digs, half-a-dozen aces, an assist and a block. Macy Hendershot added 10 kills and a trio of aces. Ali Weatherspoon finished with 13 assists and Janelle Greenwood had six digs and a pair of aces. Bayleigh Harman and Josey Greenwood evenly split eight kills and four digs. Aubrey Nippert donated nine assists. Mady Violet had five kills and Sophe Boltz three.

Bellaire remains at home tonight as River visits. The varsity will play first and then the reserves. Shadyside hosts Barnesville on Wednesday.

Martins Ferry Sweeps Bridgeport

MARTINS FERRY — The Purple Riders opened their season with a sweep of Bridgeport by scores of 25-14, 25-19 and 25-20.

The Riders were led by Sydney Koller’s eight kills, 10 digs, nine aces and 12 points. Hannah Meeker added four digs, three aces, 10 points and 24 assists. Lindsay Best donated seven kills, three aces and seven points. Kelsi Gillespie had three digs, four aces and five points.

Bridgeport, meanwhile, was led by Markiee McCormick, who had 11 assists, five kills and three digs to go along with eight points. Kaylee Bain had 23 digs and five points. Josalyn Canter had four points and three kills. Vanessa Mullen posted 17 digs.

Buckeye Trail sweeps St. Clairsville

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Warriors spoiled the home debut for the Red Devils with a sweep by scores of 25-19, 25-9 and 25-14.

The loss drops the Devils to 0-2 on the young season.

St. Clairsville was led by Katlyn Gray’s four kills and five blocks. Rachel Finnical added 11assists, three digs, while Brooke Biancarelli posted four kills, six digs and two aces.

Harrison Central falls to Toronto

CADIZ — The Huskies fell in three sets to the Red Knights by scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-15.

Harrison Central was led by Danica Rensi’s nine kills. Olivia Tonkovich had 15 digs, while Maddy Butler had 16 points. Taylor Nemeth added four blocks and Trista Thompson had three blocks.

GOLF

St. Clairsville wins at Belmont Hills

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Red Devils fired an impressive round of 155 to defeat Barnesville (171), Union Local (195), Martins Ferry (201), Magnolia (211) and Bridgeport.

The Red Devils were led by Brodi Foster and Evan Fix. Both fired even-par rounds of 36 to share medalist.

Edison wins at Wheeling Park

WHEELING — The Wildcats picked up a win, topping Marietta and John Marshall, at the Wheeling Park Golf Course Monday.

The Edison girls shot 182 as a team, ahead of Marietta’s 207 and JM’s 226. Zoe Shell (43), Nicole Zullo (44) and Kaite Phillips (45) turned in solid rounds to lead the charge.

Marietta’s Saylor Wharff shot 5-over 39 to claim medalist honors.

Jocelyn Blatt shot 51 to lead the Monarchs.