PREP VOLLEYBALL Mineral Ridge has final rally, turns back Jackson-Milton

The Rams scored the final 10 points of the third and deciding game.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH JACKSON -- Momentum is an important part of volleyball.
That's because when a team scores, it gets back the ball for a chance to score again, without having to give up offense to the opposition in alternating fashion.
So therefore a team that gets into a scoring groove has a better chance of staying there without interruption.
Such was the case for both Mineral Ridge and Jackson-Milton in Thursday's Inter-County League match-up, but the Rams won the battle of the comebacks with two key rallies to win, 15-13, 4-15, 15-12.
Streaking finishes
In the first game, Jackson-Milton scored eight unanswered points to go ahead 13-7, but Mineral Ridge retaliated with eight points in a row for the 15-13 win.
However, in the second game, the Bluejays streaked to a 9-1 lead, and this time went unchallenged by the Rams en route to their 15-4 victory.
But in the finale, after Jackson-Milton built a 12-5 command, Mineral Ridge responded again, rallying for 10 unanswered points.
Larissa Proud came through with several kills down the stretch in the final game to keep the Rams' rally going. A spike put her team ahead, 12-11, and then she had the final two kills to finish the comeback.
But also powering Mineral Ridge were the strong serving of Kerry MacGregor, Robin Zimmerman and Jenna Hinks, and the outstanding net play of Dariana Casado.
"Kerry MacGregor really started the rally. She served real well and had a couple of aces. They [Jackson-Milton] couldn't get receptions to get into their offense," said Mineral Ridge (12-6, 4-4 ICL) coach Jenny Stauton.
Casado sparkles
"Casado came back in toward the end and had some nice kills," added Stauton. "Her [play] and MacGregor's serving started the rally, and then Robin's serving and Proud at the net finished it off."
Coach Sue Proxy of Jackson-Milton (6-5, 5-4) blamed her team's breakdown for the Bluejays squandering commanding leads in the first and third games.
"We lost sight of our momentum and goals. We stopped communicating and stopped talking. We lost a rally and momentum," said Prozy.
MacGregor scored nine points with one ace, while Zimmerman had eight points and one ace and Hinks five points and three aces to spark the Rams. Casado had 16 kills and eight blocks while Proud wound up with nine kills. Carrie Wilson had 30 assists.
For Jackson-Milton, Erika Stamm had 13 points, 22 assists and one ace, while Ashley Loutzenhiser had 12 points, seven digs, four aces and three blocks, Shauna Durig 10 kills and Jayne Fenton seven digs.
kovach@vindy.com