NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS RALLIES FOR FIVE-SET WIN OVER TOWANDA (16 PHOTOS) (October 15, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
TOWANDA — Athens had its back against the wall after dropping the third set, but rallied for a five-set win over Towanda here Thursday night in NTL Large volleyball action.

The Black Knights opened the night with a 25-19 win, but the Wildcats answered with a 25-22 to even the match.

Towanda pulled out a 26-24 decision in the third set to take a 2-1 lead, but Athens responded with a 25-20 win in the fourth set, and was dominant in the fifth set with a 15-7 win to clinch the win.

Athens also beat Towanda in five sets earlier this season.

"What incredible play from both sides, this was a match to be at," said Athens coach Heather Darrow. "First off, huge shout-out to our student section tonight — Eli Hicks, Duncan Thetga, and Peter Bertsch held the fort down against the beast of a student section that is Towanda. Also, a shout-out to Towanda's crowd for being so loud and making the environment so fun to play in."

"We struggled in the first set to find the court," noted Darrow. "We weren't keeping our elbow high on our swings and missed four serves that set, when we usually miss four serves a match.

"The girls reset and moved on and fought hard set two. It seemed like we battled coming from behind a lot this match. 

"The girls saw tonight that we can start out not so great and still turn it around and make it work one rep at a time," added Darrow. "They put in a ton of quality reps every day in practice, so I know it's in them and I think today they saw it's in them, too."

Senior Meg Wiles led Athens with a triple-double — 18 service points, 45 setter assists, and 10 digs.

"I have a feeling Meg Wiles set a record of some sort for Athens," said Darrow. "She had 45 assists tonight and she earned every one. She is really working well with the hitters and spreading the ball around."

Junior Ellie Mosher had six points, a team-high 16 kills, two blocks and 23 digs, while freshman Evelyn Roy had four points, including three aces, 14 kills, one block, and 10 digs, and senior Emma Mallare registered four kills and a team-high three blocks. 

"Ellie Mosher played relentless tonight," said Darrow. "We all know she can slam the ball, (but) her defense and scrappiness kept the team in it. Whether she was in the front row or back row she gave her all to keep the ball in play; that's the leadership through action that gets the rest of the team fired up and flying. 

"I never say anything about Evelyn Roy being a freshman, (but) she is," noted Darrow. "To come into the first game and making several errors to turning it around and getting 14 kills helped us shift the momentum in the game.

"To be that young and be able to turn it around like that is something special. She just keeps swinging and plugging away.

"And, Emma Mallare stepped up huge tonight and was a force in the middle," added Darrow. "I'm really excited for her."

Senior Hannah Parrish had eight points, including three aces, 12 digs, and five kills, while junior Lainey Vosburgh nine points (three aces) and 11 digs, sophomore Kayla Forbes recorded 33 digs and six assists, junior Kendall Galasso added three points, three kills, and nine digs, and sophomore Emi McQuay chipped in with four kills.

"Lainey Vosburgh overcame a rolled ankle and served like a beast in game five," said Darrow. "I took her out fourth game, I could see she was hurting. 

"I told her I was resting her game five, and then she went back to serve two aces in a row plus six more aggressive serves.

"Hannah Parrish served really well tonight and had some excellent shots on offense," said Darrow. "Her passion out there gets the team all fired up.

"Kayla Forbes may have also set a record for Athens tonight with 33 dig. She was everywhere and her ball control was gorgeous. 

"Kendall Gallasso had great defense tonight on the net and in back row," said Darrow. "She showed very quick reaction time and made some great saves. 

"Emi McQuay ran some awesome slides in the middle and I love that as a sophomore," added Darrow. "She keeps pushing herself to do the hard stuff."

Athens, now 9-4, wraps up the regular season next week with home games again Wellsboro and Wyalusing on Tuesday and Thursday. 

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.

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