UNBEATEN NP-L RALLIES TO TOP ATHENS, 3-1, AGAIN
By: Tim Birney / October 15, 2020 / Photo: David Alliger
LIBERTY — Nine days ago, Athens took the first set from unbeaten North
Penn-Liberty, but dropped the next three. Thursday’s NTL volleyball
match was a near carbon copy.
The Lady Wildcats logged a 25-16
win in the first set, but NP-L, a state runner-up last season, bounced
back to win the next three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-12, and 25-21.
The
match was originally scheduled to be played at Athens, but the NP-L
school district refuses to play any events in Bradford County, forcing
Athens to make a choice: cancel the match, or travel to Liberty for the
second time in nine days.
“It was one heck of a journey of
rescheduling, getting a bus, and changing plans,” said Athens coach
Heather Hanson. “It was our third game in three nights.
“The girls.played amped up and awesome,” noted Hanson. :”It was great to watch them step.up.
“I’m not worried about the loss because the improvement is incredible,” she added. “This loss is going to help us a ton.”
Senior
Kayleigh Miller had 31 setter assists and 13 digs, and senior Taylor
Field recorded 16 digs to lead Athens, while senior Leah Liechty
registered 14 kills, and sophomore Jenny Ryan had 16 digs, seven kills,
three assists, and two service aces.
Junior Taylor Walker had 11
digs, three kills and two aces for the Lady Wildcats, while senior Kylie
Jayne put down nine kills, senior Grayce Witherow added seven digs and
two aces, and junior Ally Martin chipped in with four kills, two aces,
and two digs.
About the Author
Tim Birney
Tim Birney is the founder / owner of River Road Media Group. He was born and raised in the Valley, graduating from Waverly High School in 1984.
Birney earned an Associate's Degree in Journalism from SUNY Morrisville in 1986 and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism / Public Relations from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1988. He began his newspaper career at The Daily Review in Towanda in 1989, before moving on to The Evening Times in 1995. He spent more than 10 years at the Times, the last four as Managing Editor.
River Road Media Group includes five sites in "The Sports Reports" family that cover 24 school districts in five counties: Valley Sports Report (launched Aug. 10, 2009), Tioga County (NY) Sports Report (Aug. 13, 2018), and Northern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 31, 2020); Northern Tier West Sports Report (March 15, 2021) Southern Tier Sports Report (Aug. 16, 2021).
