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STEUBENVILLE – Momentum plays a vital role in a volleyball match, and it is common for there to be big swings in momentum throughout a match, however, that was not the case for the Big Red volleyball team against Martins Ferry.
The senior-laden Purple Riders got off to a fast start in the match, and the visitors from Belmont County kept the momentum on their side for the majority of the match as Martins Ferry swept Big Red, 25-8, 25-9, 25-16, in Big Red’s home-opening match Saturday afternoon inside the Crimson Center.
With the win, the Purple Riders are 1-0 on the season, while Big Red is 0-1 with the loss.
The Purple-and-White were in control of the match from the outset. Martins Ferry took an early lead in the first game, and the visitors built a double-digit advantage as it rolled to a victory in Game 1. The hosts were able to rattle some points late in the game, but the Purple Riders were able to regain the momentum and close things out to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The victors kept rolling right along in the second game.
A Big Red serve sailed long giving Martins Ferry the first point of Game 2. The Purple Riders recorded the next seven points on their serve to build an 8-0 lead before Big Red head coach Logan Colabella called a timeout in an attempt to right the ship. The winner’s lead grew to 9-0 before the girls in red recorded their first point of the game.
After the Red-and-Black got on the scoreboard, Martins Ferry countered and built a 15-point advantage at 17-2. Then, the Purple Riders extended their advantage out to 20-3. Big Red responded by scoring the next four points to make the score, 20-7, but Martins Ferry regrouped and regained control, and it scored the final two points of the game to win it by 16 points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The hosts struck first in the third game to take a 1-0 lead, but the lead did not last long as the Purple Riders stormed back and scored the next seven points forcing Colabella to call a timeout with her team trailing by six points. Big Red scored the next point following the timeout, however, Martins Ferry responded and built another double-digit advantage.
Trailing by 11 points (16-5), the home team battled back and scored the next five points to pull within six points at 16-10. Undeterred, Martins Ferry regained the momentum and built a 20-10 advantage. Big Red managed to pull within seven points on a couple of occasions, however, the Purple Riders were able to win the game by nine points to complete the sweep.
The two OVAC rivals played three matches on the day as the two schools played a freshman match along with a junior varsity match before the varsity one.
Martins Ferry is scheduled to play Belmont County rival St. Clairsville tonight at home.
Big Red is slated to play Jefferson County rival Indian Creek Tuesday night at home.