Roughriders stay hot by winning own invite

ST. MARYS - After starting the volleyball season 0-4, St. Marys looked to continue the momentum from Thursday's first win at their invitational on Saturday.

After convincing wins in the opening round and semifinal, the Roughriders went the distance with Old Fort before coming away with a three-set win to claim the championship and more importantly, even their season mark at 4-4.

"For us to fight back from a tough opening weekend at Coldwater (the Cavalier Spikeoff) then turnaround to get to .500 and reset the system, that shows a lot about what the girls are about," St. Marys coach Andy Rammel said. "They've been busting it in practice. ... Their fight is as consistent and impressive as any team I've been around."

Fort Recovery nearly joined the Roughriders in the finals for the second straight, but lost to Old Fort in the semifinals and settled for third place with a win over Allen East.

The host Roughriders had no trouble with Toledo Woodward in the opening match, winning 25-3 and 25-8. The semifinal against Allen East was also a fairly easy effort with St. Marys advancing with a 25-13, 25-14 decision.

Fort Recovery started with a convincing 25-8, 25-4 win over Spencerville to get to face perennial Division IV contender Old Fort. The Stockaders won the opening set 25-13, but the Indians forced a third and deciding set with a 25-18 win. Old Fort bounced back and moved on with a 25-18 win to hand Fort Recovery its first loss of the season.

"I was looking at their schedule coming in. They were 2-0 against two very good programs," Fort Recovery coach Chelsea Rogers said. "I knew our hands were going to be full."

The Indians had to rebound quickly for the third place match against Allen East. The Mustangs were ready to finish big. Fort Recovery fended off the Mustangs for a 25-18, 25-16 win.

"It took us awhile to bounce back (after the Old Fort loss), but we found a way," Rogers said. "Overall, I'm fairly happy."

Carley Stone recorded 23 kills and 25 digs on the day for Fort Recovery. Kiah Wendel had 14 aces, including nine against Spencerville, and 19 digs. Cassidy Martin added nine blocks and seven kills.

In the championship match, the Roughriders and Stockaders battled back and forth before St. Marys was able to take the opening set 26-24. Old Fort stormed back in the second set with some dominating play to force a third set with a 25-18 win.

The Roughriders jumpd out early in the third set 6-3 only to have the Stockaders tie the set at 14-14 and later take a 18-17 lead before St. Marys tied it up with a sideout. A Stockader hitting error followed by a kill by Ally Angstmann made it a two-point St. Marys lead. Old Fort got within one several times, but kills by Quincy Rable and Taryn Swander wrapped up a 25-21 victory to clinch the championship.

"Old Fort has a good history, but this was as athletic (an Old Fort team) as I can remember them being in some time," Rammel said. "You want to talk about a stout win against a really athletic team. They were scrappy."

Angstmann had 28 kills during the tournament. Madi Howell had 64 assists.

Both teams return to action tonight. St. Marys makes the short trip down state route 66 to face New Bremen and Fort Recovery is back home at Fort Site Fieldhouse to host Troy Christian.