By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre rallied to pull out the second set and even the match, but Dayspring Christian ended the Redskins' season in four sets here Tuesday night in the opening round of the PIAA, Class A volleyball playoffs.
The Warriors won the first set 25-16, but the Redskins rallied from a four-point deficit to win the second set, 25-23. Dayspring Christian won the next two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-16.
Sayre coach Colby Sangrey said the second set summed up his team.
"All season, we haven't really had any points where we've just given up. We've always got that fight and that really showed out in that second set," he said.
"Finding ourselves down for most of it and just clawing our way back and finding ways to get points," added Sangrey. "And to take the last three points to take the set ... we showed a lot of grit."
Dayspring Christian led 13-11 midway through the first set, but used a pair of small service runs to pull away for a the 25-16 win.
Sayre had three one-point leads early in the second set, the last at 11-10, but Dayspring Christian reeled off six straight points to take a 16-11 lead.
The Redskins closed the gap to one point on three different occasions, but Dayspring led 22-19 after a service ace.
Sayre junior Grace Russo served up a pair of points to tie the second set at 22-22, but a side-out gave Dayspring a 23-22 lead.
The Redskins served for the set leading 24-23, but the serve was into the net. Dayspring took a 25-24 lead, but Sayre forced a side-out to tie it at 25-25.
Junior Yhale Doon then served consecutive aces to give the Redskins a 27-25 lead.
Sayre led the third set 9-4 after five straight service points by senior Alex Schack, including four aces, but Dayspring chipped away at the lead, and took its first lead at 14-13, on a service run that eventually made it 16-13.
The Redskins pulled within one, at 16-17, but the Warriors ended the set with four straight service points to win 25-17.
Dayspring jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the third set, and closest Sayre would get afterward was four points, the last time at 15-11.
Sangrey said his team didn't play it best.
"There was just a little bit more inconsistency tonight — both offensively and defensively," he said. "Typically, the offense is the one that we try to focus on the most with staying consistent.
"Defensively, we were just getting burnt with some of the short tips," noted Sangrey. "They were putting them in fantastic spots, but just adjusting to that was something that we struggled with a little bit."
Senior Alex Schack had 17 digs, five kills, and five aces, while junior Reghan McGaughey had 25 digs and seven kills, and junior Yhale Doon recorded 11 digs, 14 setter assists, and three aces to lead Sayre.
Junior Grace Russo had 25 digs and three aces for the Redskins, while freshman Mylee Medina added 12 digs, and junior Azalea McClenny registered three kills, two blocks, and two digs.
Schack, Sayre's lone senior starter, has seen both ends of the spectrum in her time with the Redskins, which began at the tail end of a historic losing streak and ended with back-to-back District 4 titles.
"I feel like a lot of it was different coaching and the motivation," she said. "We have the potential to do anything we want to do.
"I hope next year the girls can do this again and move beyond.
"Getting to this point means a lot to me, especially since this is my last year here," noted Schack. "Winning the districts for our second year in a row was just amazing
"But, it's sad, too, because volleyball is all I've ever known, so leaving here is gonna be really tough," she added.
Sangrey said Schack will be missed.
"She plays with so much passion, and she loves the sport of volleyball," he said. "She's been fantastic ... last year she played libero for us and then switched to right-side (hitter) at the end of the season.
"This year, we had a spot outside that needs to be filled," noted Sangrey. "She just came in and worked at that and didn't say anything about what she was doing, because she loves to play volleyball.
"She was just ready to work it and do anything for the team," added Sangrey. "Having a player that would do that for you, that you can plug in anywhere is hard to replace."
Sangrey said the Sayre volleyball program is in a good place.
"When I took over this program, I was just focused on progress," he said. And last year, we did some really awesome things, getting a district title and winning a state game.
"Being able to do the same with the District title this year, I think is huge, because it just gives us more experience," he noted. "It really does put us in a good position.
"At the same time, we want to recognize that each year it just gets harder," said Sangrey. "We lose a fantastic player this year that so that's our spot that needs to be filled.
Other teams are young, so they're only going to get better," added Sangrey. "What we want to do is to take this loss and take where we finish the season and use that as motivation to come in and work hard over the offseason and during the regular season next year."
—————————
IN PHOTO 1: Sayre's Azalea McClenny. IN TOP PHOTO: Sayre's Alex Schack. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
