CUMBERLAND — In a matchup of the two teams ranked No. 5 in this week’s area poll, Allegany limited its mistakes, leading to a sweep of Keyser on Monday.
The Campers (5-3) won the first two sets 25-22 and the final set 25-18.
“It was very, very, nice because we played like we enjoyed it,” Allegany head coach Cassie Murray said. “They played like I know they can play. We’ve been working really hard on letting go of mistakes because it’s ok to be a mistake. Focusing on getting serves over and in, they just played nice and easy.”
Allegany was in control for most of the first set, opening on a 10-5 run led by three assists from Hailee Isom and two kills and an ace by Danica Knight.
Trailing 20-14, the Golden Tornado (11-9) went on a 8-2 run led by Nakira Bartlett’s consecutive aces to cut the deficit to 24-22.
“We couldn’t get going, couldn’t get a rally,” Keyser head coach Brian Kesner said. “But I thought we played well. We just couldn’t put three or four together. We would trade points, then they’d get two or three and then we’d trade again. We just couldn’t get going, but they played exceptionally well.”
Bartlett finished with three aces, seven digs and a kill.
Facing set point, Isom and Knight teamed up for a kill at the net to clinch the opening set.
Isom finished with 16 assists, three digs and a kill while Knight posted 11 kills, four digs, three blocks and an ace.
Keyser got off to a better start in the second set, taking a 8-7 lead off two aces from Bella Haines and one each by Aubrey Fisher and Tautianna Boyd.
“We had a really good start, I thought if we get a good start, if we come out strong, we usually finish strong,” Kesner said. “We came out strong, then they took the momentum away from us and we couldn’t get it back.”
Fisher recorded two aces, two blocks, two digs, a kill and an assist.
An ace from Chelsea Martinez put the Campers in front 9-8, then Alco went on a 11-5 run to stretch the lead to 20-13.
The Tornado rallied late with a 9-4 run to get within 24-22, but a service error secured the set for Allegany.
The Campers opened the third set on a 10-4 run before another mid-set run from Keyser cut the lead to 13-10.
“They are scrappy, talking to Coach Brian, he said they had an off night,” Murray said. “I said I’ve been there, at the beginning of the season, we’ve had a lot of off nights. It’s frustrating and it’s hard, but they’re very scrappy and they have the talent.”
Allegany answered with a 7-5 run to push the margin to 20-15.
“They would get about 21, 22 (points), then we’d just die off,” Kesner said of the difference down the stretch. “They would come up with a big play. That big right side hitter, she did superb for Allegany.”
Facing match point and leading 24-18, Mykah Baker assisted Briley Linaburg on a kill that rolled over the net to win the match.
Chloe DeBlock finished with 12 kills, four digs, a block and an ace for the Campers.
Sophie Lambka posted seven kills with a dig and an ace while Jillian Ault added two aces, four kills, four blocks and a dig for the Tornado.
Allegany won the junior varsity match 25-23 and 25-20 led by Addison Holliday’s four kills, two digs, two blocks and an assist.
Lydia Imes recorded nine assists and five digs, Kiana Morgret added four kills and a block and Lily Cross had 11 digs with an ace for the Campers.
“It was the mentality, it’s something me and the other coaches have been preaching all season,” Murray said of playing a clean game. “It just didn’t quite click, but this weekend, especially Saturday, something finally clicked in practice. They were playing and enjoying it and doing things right and letting go of the pressure of trying to be perfect.”
Keyser’s junior varsity stats were not provided.
Both teams are away on Tuesday.
Allegany heads to South Hagerstown while Keyser plays East Hardy (9-4).
The Golden Tornado play No. 4 Mountain Ridge (3-4) at home on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
The Campers then get a six-day break before facing No. 2 Fort Hill (4-2) on Monday at 7:15 p.m. in South Cumberland.
“It’s good, you need that, have two good games in a row hopefully,” Murray said of a midseason break. “Then you have a couple days where you can really focus on the little things. Doesn’t have to be, alright, this team does this, we can just focus on us.”