Riley Heminger (13) of North Union goes up for a block during a recent match. NU won two matches during action at Elgin on Saturday. (Photo submitted)
The North Union volleyball squad bounced back from an opening-match loss to win two straight matches on Saturday during the Elgin Volleyball Classic.
The Lady Cats (3-10) lost 21-25, 16-25 to Pleasant in their first match.
NU, though, rebounded with a 25-12, 18-25, 25-13 win over Ridgemont and a 25-15, 25-15 victory over Elgin.
After losing its first eight matches of the season, North Union has posted three victories in its last five matches.
The day, however, did not start out very well for coach Alexis Maenz and her netters, losing their opening match to the Lady Spartans.
A four-point run, led by two kills by Zoe Wedding and a service ace by Kayla Sedgwick, gave North Union a 7-5 edge.
After Pleasant took a 10-8 lead, the Lady Cats battled back to regain the advantage at 11-10.
North Union would not lead again and Pleasant closed out the opening set by scoring the last three points.
A 7-1 run by Pleasant paced it to a 13-8 lead in the second set.
The Lady Spartans finished things off with a match-ending 6-1 run.
North Union fell behind early in its match against Ridgemont, trailing 6-1.
However, the Lady Cats caught fire midway through the set.
A pair of kills by Hope Hall and a block by Candace Holloway sparked a 7-0 run for a 19-11 lead.
Hall tallied two more kills and Holloway served three aces as North Union scored the final six points of the set.
The Lady Cats carried the momentum into the second set, climbing to a 9-4 margin.
They were led by a block by Abi Zimmerman, a kill from Riley Heminger and a service ace by Hall.
Ridgemont rallied to take a 13-10 lead and then upped the count to 19-13. The Golden Gophers were able to keep its lead to tie the match at one set apiece.
North Union dominated the third set, aided by a 10-3 run that put it out to a 15-7 lead.
Kiley Pederson, Sierra Ballinger and Holloway led the way with service aces.
A six-point spurt, helped by two kills from Wedding, carried North Union to a triumph in the set and the overall victory.
North Union never really let Elgin in the match in scoring a two-set win over the Comets.
Four service aces by Ballinger keyed a 10-0 run that put the Lady Cats on top at 14-5 and ultimately a first-set victory.
North Union led 10-4 early in the second set, buoyed by three service aces by Holloway.
Elgin closed within two at 12-10, but North Union regained control to complete the two-set sweep of the Lady Comets.
Maenz was pleased with how her team bounced back from the opening loss.
“Winning after dropping the first match was recognizing we had a lot of volleyball left to play,” Maenz said. “We did a good job mentally of not letting that first match define our day.”
Maenz is hoping getting two wins in one day will help turn the season around.
“It helps us build upon the culture we are trying to set,” she said. “Everyday we get to play volleyball is another opportunity to grow.
“Everyone got involved and came together to pull out those victories.”
Holloway missed just one of her 32 serves with five aces on the day, while Ballinger went 24-of-25 with five aces. Wedding picked up four aces. Hall totaled 20 kills with Ballinger and Wedding each adding 10. Holloway dished out 21 assists and Kayla Sedgwick finished with 24 digs.
The junior varsity team matched the varsity record, losing to Pleasant (15-25, 11-25) while defeating Ridgemont (25-9, 25-20) and Elgin (25-14, 25-17).
North Union will play at Kenton Ridge tonight.