ICL VOLLEYBALL South Range takes over league lead

The Raiders and Mineral Ridge will play again on Oct. 13.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Knowing a loss would destroy its chances of winning the Inter-County League championship, the South Range High volleyball team responded Thursday with a 15-10, 13-15, 15-9 victory over Mineral Ridge.
South Range (13-3, 8-2 ICL) has two conference matches remaining, while Mineral Ridge (13-6, 7-2) has three. The teams meet again Oct. 13 at South Range.
"We started saying at Springfield that if we win out, the league is ours," South Range coach T.J. Irons said. "The three games we played tonight were the best three we put together all year, period.
"We're controlling our own destiny from now on. If we win out, we win the league. It's that easy."
Early lead: In the first game, the Raiders jumped out to an 8-1 lead, thanks to strong plays at the net by Jodi James and Amy Algeo.
Mineral Ridge, using serves from Sarah Gerberry and a spike by Dariana Casado, tied the score at 8 before South Range rallied for the win.
South Range held leads of 8-3 and 9-6 in the second game before the Rams tied the score at 9. There were four ties the rest of the way, before Mineral Ridge scored the final points in the 15-13 victory.
The Raiders took a 6-2 lead in the deciding game a Mineral Ridge rally tied the score. South Range scored the final five points of the game as Algeo and James each came up with spikes.
"This was really a huge game and it pretty much decided the ICL," Algeo said. "If we would have lost, we would have probably been completely out of it."
Leaders: Kelly James led South Range with 15 points and eight kills, while Anna Waldele had eight points, 20 assists and nine kills. Tracey Toy added eight kills.
For Mineral Ridge, Casado had 12 blocks, Jenna Hinks had 13 assists and Tiffany Hack had 17 kills. Gerberry had 10 blocks and seven points, while Erin Hinks had seven kills and nine points to go along with eight assists from Carrie Wilson.
"We did not serve and pass well," Mineral Ridge coach Jennifer Staunton said. "One of my players missed six serves; you can't miss six serves."