St. Paul senior hitter Olivia Livengood was in preschool the last time the Lady Flyers lost a Firelands Conference match at home.
After St. Paul fell to rival Monroeville in Game 1 Tuesday night in a match that is expected to go a long way towards determining the FC title, all Livengood had to do was take a glance at the banners on the wall stuffed full of championships.
“I strongly believe in our history and tradition,” Livengood said. “I think all of us go out with that mental state, because we have a target on our back. We really had to fight to pull this out.”
Monroeville (5-2, 4-1 FC) won the opener, 25-22, but St. Paul responded to take the next three sets and the match, 25-12, 25-20, 25-23.
The win marked the 91st consecutive home FC win for St. Paul (8-0, 5-0), which last fell at the Convocation Center to South Central on Sept. 23, 1999. St. Paul is also 89-1 overall in the FC since 2005, with the Eagles handing the Lady Flyers the lone loss last season.
For Monroeville, Breanna Kramer had 16 kills, three blocks, 17 digs and was 11 of 14 serving with three aces.
For St. Paul, Livengood was 27 of 28 hitting with 13 kills and five blocks, and finished 13 of 13 serving with six points and two aces. Erin Kramer was 25 of 27 hitting with 12 kills.
Western Reserve 3, Mapleton 0
Western Reserve improved to 8-3, 3-2 after Tuesday’s 25-13, 25-10, 25-12 win in Firelands Conference volleyball action.
Jacqui Mullins served 19-of-19 with 15 points and Carli Patrick added 10-of-10 and seven points.
South Central 3, New London 1
South Central (4-4, 1-4) dropped a close opening set 25-22 Tuesday, before responding with wins of 25-16, 25-12, 25-20 to grab its first FC win of the season.
Anna Hintz led the Lady Trojan attack with 22 kills, 16 digs, and seven blocks.
South Central’s Madison Chandler set 133-of-134 with 30 assists.
For the Ladycats, Janessa Kipp had eight kills and two blocks. Katie Green posted 22 assists and nine kills.
Read more in Wednesday's Norwalk Reflector and Sandusky Register.
