NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS SWEEPS WYALUSING IN SEASON-OPENER (2024-08-27)

Valley Sports Report
WYALUSING — Athens opened the season with an impressive road sweep of Wyalusing here Tuesday night in NTL volleyball action.

The Wildcats topped the Rams by scores of 25-14, 25-15, and 25-16.

“I am incredibly proud of the hard work these girls have already put in and how they fought tonight,” said Athens coach Heather Darrow. “Wyalusing had a lot of serving errors and we jumped on the opportunities.

“What a way to start the season,” she noted. “This whole team played as a team … it was just team, team, team.

“Even in broken plays we reacted with such composure,” added Darrow.

Senior Keaton Wiles registered 12 kills, nine digs, and two aces, while senior Kassie Babcock had 10 kills, 12 digs, and five aces, and senior Ella Coyle had 18 digs, and 14 serve-receives, with just one receive error.

“Keaton Wiles has turned on the heat with all-around play and some major smashes on the outside,” said Darrow.

“Kassie Babcock just all out put the ball where the opponents were not,” noted Darrow. “Smart offense and her net play was great.

“Ella Coyle stepped into set if the setter was out, while also digging and passing like crazy,” added Darrow. “That girl’s relentlessness and fire is something else.”

Freshman Elle Mosher had eight service aces, and six kills for the Wildcats, while senior Sydney Field recorded 19 setter assists, and two service aces, and Emma Renninger had eight assists, and six digs.

“Player of the night tonight had to be our freshman Ellie Mosher,” said Darrow. “Her serving was just gorgeous and her front row aggressiveness is just something you can’t coach — she has natural athletic reactions.

“As a coach I don’t even see her as a freshman, she just plays so smart.

“Sydney Field, wow was I impressed with her vocal leadership and ball control,” noted Darrow. “She definitely ran the court tonight and wanted to fight for that setter spot.

“Emma Renninger, who just stepped in as our other setter this year, did so great in the second and third game setting up hitters and digging.”

Senior Gretchen Schmieg had eight digs and two aces in the win, while junior Reagan McDaniel added three kills, and senior Anna Geisinger chipped in with three digs.

Athens returns to action Thursday when it hosts Troy.

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IN PHOTO 1: Athens senior Keaton Wiles. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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