ATHENS KNOCKS OFF TROY, 3-

By: Tim Birney  /  September 30, 2021

TROY — Athens fended off a late comeback bid to post a 3-1 win over Troy here Thursday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.

“The girls, as a team, played really well,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “It was super-refreshing to watch them play with more relentlessness.”

Hanson said the Lady Wildcats made a couple of adjustments after Tuesday’s loss.

“We tried a couple different things tonight, and that seemed to help out,” she said. “I was glad to hear them be so loud, especially with a super-loud Troy crowd.”

The Lady Wildcats won the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-15, but the Lady Trojans forced a fourth set with a 25-18 win in the third set. Athens closed  out the match with a 25-20 victory.

Jenny Ryan led Athens seven points — all aces, 14 kills, 12 setter assists, and 18 dig, while Ally Martin had 12 points, six kills, and 12 digs, and Kassie Babcock had eight points, six kills, and 11 digs.

Taylor Walker had four points, five kills, and 11 digs in the win, while Braelyn Wood had four points, six assists, two kills, and 13 digs, Cassy Friend added three points (three aces), and four digs, Ella Coyle recorded 12 digs, and Cailin McDaniel chipped in with one block.

Athens, now 3-4, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts North Penn-Liberty.