Toronto sweeps the Huskies on senior night
Andrew Grimm HITTING HARD — Toronto's Jayna Reevers attempts a kill past Harrison Central's Daylee Walters and Leah Grady.
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Josey Dickinson and Kylie Mitchell attempt to block an attempt from Harrison Central's Ellelynie McKibben.
Andrew Grimm DIGGING IT — Harrison Central's Leah Grady digs against Toronto.
Andrew Grimm HITTING HARD — Toronto's Jayna Reevers attempts a kill past Harrison Central's Daylee Walters and Leah Grady.
Andrew Grimm BLOCKING — Toronto's Josey Dickinson and Kylie Mitchell attempt to block an attempt from Harrison Central's Ellelynie McKibben.
Andrew Grimm DIGGING IT — Harrison Central's Leah Grady digs against Toronto.
Trending
TORONTO – The Toronto volleyball team took care of business against Harrison Central giving its five seniors a win in their final regular season match at home.
A 7-0 spurt sparked Toronto to victory in the first set, and the Red Knights went on to sweep the Huskies, 25-18, 25-12, 25-21, Thursday night on senior night inside the George J. Kunzler Memorial Gymnasium.
“It was a good night for our seniors and for the families of our seniors,” Toronto (18-2) head coach Shannon Bahen said. “It was nice they were able to close out the regular season with a win.”
Toronto has won 11-straight matches.
“They are a solid team,” for sure,” Harrison Central (8-12) head coach Grace Bengier said.
Toronto’s 7-1 spurt in the first set broke a 17-17 tie, and the Red Knights went on to win the set by eight points to take a 1-0 lead in the match. The girls from the Gem City kept the momentum on their side in the second set as they defeated the Huskies by 13 points to take a 2-0 lead. The third set was another close one. The hosts built a 17-15 lead causing the visitors to call a timeout, however, the Huskies were unable to stop the bleeding as the Red Knights went on to win the set by four to record the sweep.
“It was senior night, and they were excited to be playing,” Bengier said about the Red Knights. “The Dobbs girl is an outstanding player.”
Individually for Toronto, Kylie Mitchell tallied three blocks, three kills and two digs, Addison Dobbs delivered 13 kills and three aces and Jayna Reeves recorded 10 kills and four aces. Also, Emma Parello produced four aces and one block, Josey Dickinson contributed three kills and one ace and Haley Bodnar added 10 digs. Finally, Jaylee Brown chipped in with seven digs, while Keiara Bailey collected three digs.
For Harrison Central, Mikayala Pelegreen produced 13 digs and three aces, Daylee Walters contributed four kills and one block and Leah Grady tallied 11 assists.
“They have some players,” Bahen said about the Huskies. “They are athletic. They have good back row players. They forced us to earn all of our points. They are good at the net. They made us make a lot of touches.
Prior to the start of the match, Toronto honored its seniors – Dickinson, Parello, Reeves, Bailey and Mitchell.
“They have meant everything to the program,” Bahen said. “Each of them is different in their own ways. They all have one goal and that is to win. They want to win the OVAC title, and they want to make it to regionals. Those five are all great kids. They are great volleyball players. They are great athletes. They’re just great kids.”
The match was the final one for both teams as Thursday was the cutoff date for teams to qualify for the annual OVAC Tournament. The top four teams in each class qualify for the tournament.
The tournament semifinals will be played at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the higher seed’s home court.
The Red Knights are the regular season champions in Class 2A meaning Toronto will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Red Knights will be hosting the No. 4 seed in the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will meet in the tournament finals Oct. 17.
Harrison Central will be playing two OVAC consolation games.
The tournament pairings are expected to be announced today.