Jonathan Alder’s Kennady Izzard goes to a knee for a dig against Benjamin Logan on Thursday. JA won the match in four sets. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
The Lady Pioneers of Jonathan Alder kept their volleyball record unblemished with a victory over Benjamin Logan on Thursday.
It wasn’t, however, a cakewalk as JA (11-0 overall and 6-0 in the Central Buckeye Conference) needed four sets to turn back the visiting Raiders.
Ben Logan scored a 25-21 verdict during the initial set.
Alder, though, came back for 25-10, 25-20, 25-8 victories during the final three games.
The Lady Pioneers appeared to have the opening set well in hand.
JA held an 18-12 margin after the Raiders committed blocking and hitting errors.
Ben Logan, however, went on a quick 7-0 run and took a 19-18 edge.
Jaden Phelps and Emma Shepherd teamed for a block that pulled JA even (19-all) with the visitors from Logan County.
Benjamin Logan later went to set point (24-20) on Alder’s net serve.
Ava Francis blasted the ball over for a kill that narrowed JA’s deficit to 24-21.
A kill from the Raiders gave them the opening set, 25-21.
Jonathan Alder shook off the cobwebs and climbed to a 15-4 lead during the ensuing game on Shepherd’s ace serve.
Francis came up with another kill to give JA a 20-7 advantage.
The match evened at one game apiece when Ben Logan was called for a net violation.
That gave JA its 25-10 verdict.
The third set was much like the first, with both teams trading points back and forth in the early going.
Shepherd tallied a pair of kills as Alder climbed to an 18-12 lead.
A tip kill from Lizzie Lombardi gave the Pioneers a 21-16 margin.
Alder committed a net violation and a pair of hitting errors.
As such, the Raiders narrowed their gap to 22-19.
JA’s front line play, however, dominated the final minutes as the home team went on top in sets by a 2-1 count.
The Raiders appeared to run out of gas during the final set as Alder’s front line dominated for the 25-8 win.
The Lady Pioneers will return to action on Saturday.
Jonathan Alder will host Olentangy Liberty.