By Greg Gielczyk
LocalSportsJournal.com

SCOTTVILLE — Playing your county rival always adds a little extra spice to the contest, as the gym pulsates with the electricity brought on by a packed house.

Which is where the Ludington and Mason County Central girls volleyball teams found themselves Tuesday night when the Orioles invaded MCC’s facility for a non-conference battle.

Photo/Joe Washington

Both teams are members of the West Michigan Conference, although in different divisions. Ludington joined the expanded WMC last year in the Lakes Division, while the Spartans are in the Rivers Division.

The Orioles prevailed on Tuesday, sweeping all three sets 25-14, 25-15 and 25-6 to claim bragging rights in the county for another season.

“We came out the first (set) ready to play,” Central head coach Erin O’Harra said. “We have been really working on being confident as a team and starting the set with a commanding presence. I feel we did that.

It was 5-5 early on in the first set, but the Orioles asserted their will on the Spartans, using a 20-9 run to pull away.

Ludington dominated the rest of the match, and outscored the Spartans 11-1 to start the third and was never threatened the rest of the way.

“Just from hearing their team talk, this has always been a big deal,” said Orioles head coach Liz Holden. “Just because they are friends.

“It’s one of our closer games, they get a lot of students in here (the Spartans gym) and they get really amped up.”

Jordyn Anderson facilitated the offense for Ludington with 25 assists, and also contributed three aces at the service line, three kills, six digs and four blocks.

Maddy Vaara finished with 12 kills, 11 digs, three aces and one block in the win. Karli Mesyar wound up with 12 digs, two assists, three aces and one kill.

Photo/Joe Washington

Ludington’s Ashley McPike had eight kills, four digs, four blocks and three aces. Jaelyn Laird contributed four kills and one block. Isabel Ramirez had two digs and one assist, Mia Voss four kills and one block.

Mya Bryant finished with four aces and two digs, Lilly Slater added two digs and one block and Mia Pung rounded out the Oriole leaders with 11 digs and one assist.

Tori Dunblaizer led the Spartans with an 8-of-9 performance at the service line with three aces, was 8-of-8 in serve receive, had seven digs, was 20–of-26 in attacks with three kills, and added three blocks and two kills.

Ellie Bendele finished 5-of-6 serving with one ace, 15-of-22 in serve receive, 3-of-3 in attacks and had eight digs. Alayna Rafter went 6-of-6 serving with two aces, was 30-of-31 setting, 3-of-3 in attacks and had five assists.

Wren Nelson was 6-of-8 in serve receive, 6-of-6 in attacks with one kill, added two blocks, one dig and one kill. Grace Weinert was 2-of-3 in attacks.

Mikayla McVicker had a 4-of-4 night in serves and was 8-of-12 in serve receive. Aylin Davila was 2-of-2 serving, 2-of-2 in serve receive and had two digs.

Anna Sterley finished 7-of-7 serving, 4-of-8 in serve receive and had three digs. Riley Mast was 2-of-2 serving, had three digs, was 4-of-6 in attacks with one kill, contributed eight digs and was 3-of-3 in attacks.

Ludington (11-1) visits Fremont in a Lakes Division match against the Packers next Tuesday, while the Spartans (6-11-3) will travel to Reed City on Thursday.

Check out more photos courtesy of Joe Washington.