Sometimes finishing off an opponent is the most difficult thing to do.
The Sandusky volleyball team is learning just how tough that is.
The Blue Streaks defeated Port Clinton in a hard-fought four games in non-conference action Saturday in Port Clinton.
After splitting the first two sets, the Blue Streaks rallied to win the pivotal third set and took a 2-1 lead. In the fourth set, Sandusky was able to hold off the Redskins 25-23 to win the match.
Sandusky, which improves to 5-4 on the season, resumes GBC play when it travels to Napoleon on Tuesday.
Port Clinton fell to 3-5 on the season.
"I'm just glad we got the win," said Sandusky head coach Dana Weatherspoon. "We moved our feet well and communicated better, which are two things that I'm trying to get them to focus on as an area of improvement."
With the Redskins up 24-20 and serving for the set point, Sandusky, behind the play of Cara Croom and Capreece Irby, came back and won the third set 28-26 to take hold of the match.
"Cara (Croom) and Capreece (Irby) came up with some big plays for us," said Weatherspoon. "They combined for a total of 30 kills in the match."
The hard-fought, back-and-forth pace of the set was a microcosm for how the entire match was played. In fact, despite losing in four sets, the Redskins were outscored just 98-96.
Sandusky nearly blew a 23-16 lead in the fourth set, allowing the Redskins to close to within 24-23 before ending the match.
Even with the win, Weatherspoon believes the Streaks have a way to go.
"We need to put together a complete game. We have a lot of room for improvement, but we're making strides. We're starting to show some maturity and not hang our heads when things go bad."
When discussing her team, Port Clinton head coach Stacy Laubacher echoed some of Weatherspoon's sentiments.
"We need to be able to work on finishing a game," said Laubacher. "We also need to be able to work together; we just haven't been able to follow through and finish."
In the first set, Sandusky took a big lead early, going up 18-8, but Port Clinton rallied before falling 25-22.
The Redskins rallied and won the second set 25-20 before nearly taking the third set.
For the match, Croom was 41-of-48 hitting with 19 kills and Irby was 31-of-37 hitting with 11 kills and served 16-for-19 with five aces. Sandusky was also paced by Sara Sidoti, who was 94-of-95 setting with 31 assists, and Quinneesha Redding, who was 15-of-16 passing with three digs.
Port Clinton was led by Meigan Day and Sydney Adkins. Day finished with 14 kills and 17 digs while Adkins had 34 assists.
"Meigan (Day) and Sydney (Adkins) stood out for us today," said Laubacher.
Edison 3, Norwalk 0
At Norwalk, the Chargers survived two tight games to go on to a three-game sweep of Norwalk, the No. 10 team in the Division II coaches poll.
Trailing 24-21 in the first game, Edison rallied for a 26-24 win and followed that up with a 28-26 win in Game 2 and a 25-17 win in Game 3.
"Norwalk just does everything and their defense is phenomenal," Edison coach Sean Hoover said. "We had some times we were frustrated because they were picking everything up, but we did a good job of keeping our composure."
Edison (6-1) got 14 kills and 11 blocks from Abbey Cox on 38-of-41 hitting while Elyse Gastier was 112-of-114 setting with 37 assists. Zoe Gastier was 28-of-30 hitting with 14 kills and 17 digs while Lauren Teed added 25 digs and Chelsea Frankboner had 12 points and serving.
"It was great competition to see a defense like that," Hoover said of Norwalk. "It showed if we perservere we can make ways for the ball to hit the floor."
Edison is at Clyde Tuesday while Norwalk (9-4) is at Tiffin Columbian.
Monroeville fourth at Buckeye Central
At New Washington, the Lady Eagles finished fourth at the Buckeye Central tournament, finishing the day with a 1-2 record.
Monroeville opened with a 25-17, 26-24 win over Tiffin Calvert before falling in three to Lexington and Margaretta.
Lexington won by scores of 25-13, 22-25, 25-16 while Margaretta won 18-25, 25-23, 25-14.
For the Lady Eagles (9-3), Jamie Kluding was named to the all-tournament team after going 35-of-35 serving with six aces, 86-of-90 hitting with 32 kills and 10 blocks, 94-of-95 setting with 38 assists and 19 digs.
Brooke Barnett was 37-of-38 hitting with 19 kills and 34-of-36 serving with three aces and Alex Miller was 93-of-95 setting with 29 assists adn 29-of-32 hitting with 14 kills while Olivia Smith added 52 digs.
