Martins Ferry Remains Unbeaten With Sweep Of Wheeling Central
Purple Riders Improve Record To Spotless 6-0
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EAST WHEELING - Martins Ferry has had a busy volleyball week but the Purple Riders (6-0) kept chugging along Wednesday night with their third victory in as many nights with a sweep of homestanding Wheeling Central.
A methodical 25-20, 25-18 and 25-16 win over the Maroon Knights (5-4) gave Martins Ferry a season sweep as it followed a four-set victory last week inside Tolbert Gymnasium high atop the Purple City.
Martins Ferry hosts Barnesville Thursday seeking a perfect week.
"I was scared to death coming into today. I didn't think we played our best Monday and Tuesday, but the girls turned it around nicely," Martins Ferry head coach Jaela Koller said. "That was great to see."
If Koller was scared before the game, she was more than a little worried when Wheeling Central jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first set, but the Purple Riders’ experience came through.
"We called a timeout and talked about it. I told the girls the ball was in their court."
The break in the action was all Martins Ferry needed as it ran off four straight points and drew even at 11 on a kill by Addie Simpson.
"She has started every game for us, but she really stepped it up for us tonight," Coach Koller said of junior Addie Simpson. "She came out and played really well when we needed her to. Some nights you might not know her name, but tonight you did."
Simpson's point sparked a seven-point run that ballooned the Purple Riders lead to 16-11 and they never looked back despite the Maroon Knights closing to within 20-18.
The second set saw the visitors jump out to a 5-1 advantage. They led 7-6 before Nicole Hammerquist recorded two of her eight kills that led to seven consecutive service points by Maddie Lucas as the margin increased to 14-6.
Wheeling Central got as close as 24-18 but a Hammerquist kill sealed the deal.
The Maroon Knights bolted to a 5-0 lead in the third set behind the serving of Teagan Peters, but Martins Ferry reeled off 10 unanswered markers to pull away. However, the hosts had other ideas and pulled to within 19-16, but the Purple Riders tallied the final half-a-dozen points to complete the sweep with Gracie Lucas at the service line.
"We've played a lot of really good teams so far this season and we've done that for a reason," Wheeling Central head coach Gracie White said. "I want this team to be ready when October and November roll around. It sucks to lose, like it always does, but it's a measuring stick for us.
"I thought we played well. Martins Ferry is a really good team."
Giana Chirpas led the way for Martins Ferry with 18 kills and three digs. During the action, the senior recorded her 1,000th career kill. SJ Koller was once again all over the court with 33 digs and two aces, while Olivia Harkness charted 34 assists and five aces. Maddie Lucas had a career-high 19 digs and a trio of kills.
Wheeling Central received solid play from Remy Peters, Olivia Stephens, Morgan Miehle and Teagan Peters.
The Maroon Knights remain at home Thursday night when Shadyside visits.