Tyler Harris, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PROCTORVILLE — In sports, as in life, leadership is tested in the toughest moments. And in those moments, you need your best leaders to show up.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
Fairland got just that from their four seniors on Tuesday night as the Dragons (19-2, 12-1 OVC) outlasted Gallia Academy in a five-set thriller.
“I think there is something special in the group that we have,” Fairland coach Mary Haynes said of her seniors. “They’re so coachable, and they just wanted something so bad. They’re turning into not just great players, but great young women.”
Let’s set the scene.
Gallia Academy rolled into Fairland High School on Tuesday undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference play while looking for a win to clinch the outright conference title. The Dragons, whose only conference loss came to Gallia just a month ago, needed a win to give themselves a shot at an OVC title.
And you could tell, from the first serve, there’s no love lost between the two.
Gallia (18-3, 12-1 OVC) took the first set after a back-and-forth affair to open up the night by a 26-24 final, which was sealed by a Dragon net violation.
That sequence was never separated by more than three points and it set the tone for the rest of the evening.
To win this one, you had to be ready to fight for every single point.
The second would go much like the first, back-and-forth, tit-for-tat and the Blue Devils found themselves in control with a 13-11 lead. But after falling behind 17-15, the Dragons finally started to string points together and it started with senior setter Kalei Ngumire setting up Kylee Bruce for back-to-back kills, which led to a 5-0 run, giving Fairland a 20-17 lead.
Gallia closed the gap to 20-19 before a Bruce block and a Gallia hitting error helped the Dragons grab momentum and force a 1-1 tie with a 25-21 victory.
Just when it seemed liked Fairland had found its footing, the third set started the opposite way as Gallia raced out to a quick 5-1 lead, sponsored by the connection of setter Regan Wilcoxon and outside hitter Cahnee Cremeens, who was able to put down back-to-back kills.
Fairland fought back with a three straight points and the fight was on as the teams traded blows back and forth until the Dragons finally took their first lead at 14-13 on another timely block from Bruce.
After Fairland extended the lead to 21-17 and it looked like the Dragons were going to close it out, Gallia’s Jenna Harrison and Callie Wilson had something to say as they locked down the back row, spoiling several Fairland attacks, leading to 9-3 Gallia run. That carried the Blue Devils to a 26-24 win as they took a 2-1 lead.
Remember that passage about leadership? This is where Fairland needed a whole lot of it in order to keep their OVC title hopes alive. But you know who never had a doubt? Fairland.
“You don’t need a title in this group to be a leader,” Haynes said. “These girls just know what each other needs. They’re a sisterhood and because of that, they have confidence oozing out of them. They know each other and they know how they all play together. They never once thought they were going to lose this match.”
Oftentimes, a team looks to their seniors, and make no mistake, the Dragons did. But in the fourth set, it was sophomore Chloe Mayo that brought back the spark. Mayo had three kills to start the game, the third of which forced a Gallia timeout as the Blue Devils trailed 12-8.
“It’s amazing what a sophomore can come into this team and do when teams least expect it,” Haynes said of her outside hitter. “Her poise and the difference in her play from the first time we played them to now is phenomenal. It’s just great to see that level of volleyball IQ and skill development come together.”
After Mayo’s run, it was the seniors’ time to make sure they avenged the early season loss.
Coming out of the timeout, Fairland leaned on the back row leadership of Brooklynn Roland, the attacks of Kalei Ngumire and Alyssa Burcham, and the all-around play of Katie Pruitt to lead the way and force a fifth set with a 25-23 victory.
Then it was lights out.
Between the powerful attack of Burcham and Mayo, and the excellent net defense from Pruitt and Bruce, Fairland cruised to a fifth set victory by a 15-7 final.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
Both teams now must win on Thursday for a share of the OVC title, whereas one win and one loss will lend the other team the trophy.
The Dragons were led by Ngumire, who had a whopping 35 assists and seven digs. Roland led them defensively with 17 digs while Burcham added 17 kills to lead the way offensively. Bruce put together a strong night with 10 kills to go alongside five blocks and Pruitt did a little bit of everything, tallying eight digs, four assists, four kills and two blocks. Mayo also helped out with 11 kills on the night.
Gallia was led offensively by Cremeens, who had 14 kills, while Emma Hammons had nine kills and three blocks. Wilcoxon set up hitters all night with 32 assists, and Callie Wilson did it all with five kills to complement her 12 digs, three assists and two blocks. Harrison led the way defensively with 18 digs.
Fairland will be back in action on Thursday as it plays host to Chesapeake on Senior night with the OVC title up for grabs. The Blue Devils will have their work cut out for them against South Point, needing a win to secure a share of the OVC title as well.
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