Journey Blevins of NU leaps to block a Benjamin Logan attack during the Lady Cats’ 3-0 sweep of the Lady Raiders. The win helped North Union into a two-way tie for the Central Buckeye Conference lead. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The Lady Cats of North Union inched closer to winning back-to-back Central Buckeye Conference volleyball titles with a three-game sweep of the Mad River Division’s top team, Benjamin Logan, on Thursday.
NU completed the sweep winning 25-20, 26-24 and 25-21 to increase its league record to 5-1.
The Lady Cats share the top spot with the Lady Raiders.
North Union coach Peg Curts said the win was big for her team that won its first conference title in more than 20 years last season.
“It was a huge win right there,” she said. “We really needed that because they beat us the first match that we played.
“We knew what was on the line tonight and knew they would be our toughest competition.”
The Lady Cats started the first set ready for the fight.
Grace Brandt helped North Union take an early 4-0 led from the service line.
Curts said the quick start was all in the plain before the first ball was ever hit.
“Mentally, they all set goals before their matches now and we knew what our goal was tonight,” she said. “Our word for tonight was ‘attack’ and earn the first five points of every set.
“That set us up for success.”
The attacking mentality was the focus as NU pounced on the Lady Raiders fast and often, climbing up 14-8.
Ben Logan was able to find its rhythm, picking up eight points and pulling to within 18-16.
Some timely blocking, though, by Journey Blevins gave the Lady Cats the momentum they needed to take the opening set.
Curts said she believes Thursday’s contest was the best her team has played this season.
“I’m so proud of the girls,” she said. “They moved on the court really well, were communicating and not letting balls drop. They just played well.”
The Lady Cats stuck to their game plan in set two, pulling out a 7-4 margin.
Early serving errors, however, gave the Raiders the edge as they took their first lead of the match at 10-9.
They later grabbed a 20-12 advantage.
Some solid cross-court hits from Gabby Ziegler gave NU the momentum it needed to sustain a seven-point run.
In doing so, the Cats pulled to within 20-19.
The two sides exchanged offensive blows, knotting the score at 24-24 with a big hit from Blevins.
However, it was a hit from Ziegler that gave NU its 2-0 lead in sets.
Curts said confidence was the difference in winning the second game.
“They didn’t get down on themselves and they just knew they could pull it out,” she said. “We practice coming from behind. We put a scenario in play where they have to come from behind.”
The Lady Cats started out a little slower in set three.
Once they took a 3-2 lead, they never looked back as they held on to the slim lead throughout the set.
Outside hitting from Jordyn Hoffman and Sydney Bacon aided the cause.
The attacking efforts totaled 38 points in all for North Union as they clinched the set and match.
Curts said the girls knew what they wanted to do against BL and made it happen.
“We just executed,” she said. “They knew what it was and they went out there and accomplished it.”
North Union will return to action Saturday when it plays in the Elgin Classic.