IAC VOLLEYBALL: WAVERLY STAVES OFF TIOGA COMEBACK TO WIN FIVE-SET THRILLER (24 PHOTOS) (2019-10-16)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY "” Waverly won the first two sets, but needed a fifth to pull out a 3-2 decision over Tioga on Seniors / Parents Night here Wednesday in IAC South volleyball action.

The Lady Wolverines won the first set 25-23, thanks to a 10-point service run by senior Chloe Croft, and jumped out to a big lead early to take a 25-17 decision in the second set.

The Lady Tigers bounced back behind long service runs by seniors Madison Macumber and Giovanna Rossi to win the third set, then trailed late in the fourth set only to rally for a 26-24 win.

Waverly closed out the match with a 25-19 win in the decisive fifth set.

The win marked the final home match of seniors Paige Lewis, Croft, Morgan Adams, Adrianah Clinton, and Izzy Garvey, as well as coach Kesha Sinsabaugh, who will step down after nine seasons at the helm of the Waverly volleyball program.

With the win, Waverly also keeps pace with Newark Valley atop the Large School standings - both teams are 10-4 in IAC South play. Waverly plays Edison, which trails both teams by 1 game, and unbeaten Candor in its final two games, while Newark Valley faces Newfield and O-M.

Lewis led Waverly with 19 service points, including four aces, five kills, four blocks, and 17 digs, while Croft had 16 points, 21 setter assists, and 11 digs, and junior Maddy Goodwin had 14 points, six kills, and 12 digs.

Clinton had a team-high 10 kills and 12 digs, while sophomore Aryan Peters recorded a team-high 27 digs, and Adams added two blocks and seven digs.

Macumber led Tioga with 18 service points, including six aces, three kills, and one block, while Rossi had nine points (two aces), 11 kills, six blocks, and seven digs, and sophomore Julia Bellis added six points and 13 digs.

Sophomore Emme Hall registered four points, nine kills, a match-high nine blocks, and five digs, while senior Chloe Bellis had five points (two aces), 18 setter assists, 11 digs, five kills, and four blocks, senior Bri Rossi had six points and 13 digs, and junior Kaitlyn Perry chipped in with four points (three aces), 12 assists and six digs.

Waverly travels to Edison Thursday night, while Tioga, now 9-5, hosts S-VE Friday.

JV: Tioga swept the junior varsity match by scores of 25-23 and 25-16.

Taylor Hall led Waverly with six aces, while Aubrey Ennis had four points, Paighten Streeter registered four kills, and Michaela Lauper added four digs.

(No stats provided for Tioga.)

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Paige Lewis. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.