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STEUBENVILLE – A spurt at the end of the first set gave the Steubenville volleyball team the momentum against rival Weir.
Big Red carried that momentum into the second set as the team took a 2-0 lead. The Red Riders responded and won the third to stay alive in the match, however, Big Red built a big lead in the fourth set en route to a 25-20, 25-15, 22-25, 25-15, victory Wednesday night inside the Crimson Center on Senior Night.
The Red Riders (7-13) took the early lead in the first set, however, Big Red countered and built a 7-3 advantage forcing Weir head coach Fran Capaldi to call a timeout. Following the timeout, Big Red extended their advantage out to 14-9, however, the girls from Hancock County battled back and knotted the score at 19 causing Big Red (10-6) head coach Logan Colabella to call a timeout.
After the timeout, the hosts responded and scored the next three points resulting in Capaldi calling her second timeout of the set. Big Red’s lead grew to four points before the hosts scored the final two points of the set to win it by five to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Big Red carried the momentum over into the second set. Big Red scored the first point of the set, but Weir struck back to even the score. Then, Big Red took a 5-1 lead before increasing the advantage to 9-3 causing Capaldi to call a timeout. The Red Riders were unable to stem the tide as Big Red’s advantage grew to 13 points at 16-3.
Weir responded with five points of its own to make the score, 16-8, but the victors were able to regain a double-digit advantage as they captured the second set by 10 points to take a 2-0 lead.
Facing elimination, Weir fought back in the third set.
Big Red once again scored first in the set, but Weir answered and built a 4-2 lead. Big Red responded with the next three points to take a 5-4 advantage. The girls from Jefferson County then built an 8-4 advantage, however, the Red Riders regrouped and knotted the score at 9. Big Red scored the next point to regain the lead, but Weir came back and took a 13-11 lead. Big Red scored the next four points to go up 15-13, but Weir tied the score at 15-all.
Weir took the lead at 16-15 before three-straight points by Big Red gave them an 18-16 lead, however, the Red Riders did not go away. Trailing by two points, Weir responded and ended up taking a 20-19 lead causing Colabella to call a timeout. The Red Riders extended their advantage out to 23-20 before Big Red answered back with two points causing Capaldi to call a timeout with the score, 23-22.
Weir responded following the timeout as it scored the next two points to win the set by three and pull within, 2-1, in the match.
Like the second set, Big Red gained control of the fourth set early, and the team was able to secure the victory.
After their win in the third set, the Red Riders had the momentum, but it did not last long as Big Red tallied the first six points of the fourth set forcing Capaldi to call a timeout. Big Red’s advantage grew to 9-0 before Weir scored a point in the set. Unfazed, Big Red collected seven-straight points causing Capaldi to call another timeout with her team trailing, 17-3. Big Red scored the next two points as well to make the score, 19-3.
On the verge of defeat, the Red Riders attempted to mount a comeback. Trailing by 16 points, Weir went on a run of its own as the team fought back and closed to within seven points at 22-15, however, the final spurt of the match belonged to Big Red. Leading by seven points, Big Red delivered the final three points of the set and the match to win the set by 10 and win the match, 3-1.
Before the match, the seniors from both teams were honored. Weir’s seniors are Adrienne Clausell, Kylie MacPherson and Alena Mallory. Big Red’s three seniors are A’rya Bigsby, Kaliyah Chamberlain and Aubrey Slussar.
Weir is schedule to play city-rival Madonna at 6:30 p.m. Monday on the road on Joanna Bernabei-McNamee Court inside the Bill Barrett Gymnasium.
Big Red is slated to play Beaver Local Tuesday at home.