Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – The Lady Purple Tornado got off to a slow start in their match against Chenango Valley Thursday evening. Winning the first two games by just two points in each, Norwich found their rhythm in the final game behind Alexis Whaley’s serving to win 25-9.
Whaley rotated in when Norwich trailed in the game 7-6 to the Warriors. Serving 11 straight points, Whaley put the Purple Tornado on top at 18-7 before Chenango Valley took the serve back.
After exchanging a few points, Norwich’s players finished the game out strong by capturing the final five points in a row.
The first two games were back-and-forth with lead changes between the two teams.
Norwich’s Riley Strong started the first game off with three straight service points, giving the home team a small lead. Teammate Lexi Taylor brought the serve back to Norwich with back-to-back kills.
At 10-10, Chenango Valley took their first lead and tan with it until Purple Tornado head coach Alger called a timeout to regroup the girls. Following the break, Taylor ran seven service points to give Norwich a 23-16 lead.
Once the Warriors were able to obtain the serve again, they rallied to pull within one point at 24-23. Norwich was able to end the first game on the next play for the 25-23 win.
In the second game, CV started with the serve and jumped out to an early lead. Once again, Alger called a timeout and the momentum shifted back to the Tornado with a five point stretch to tie the game at 12-12.
Norwich then proceeded to take a 21-17 lead but the Warriors came fighting back to tie the game up at 21-21. At 24-24, the Chenango Valley server hit her serve attempt too deep, giving the point advantage and the ball back to Norwich.
Whaley came in for the final serve and placed it other Warriors side. As CV was unable to set up a scoring attempt, Norwich’s Gabby Eddy took a pass from Strong and spiked it to Chenango Valley. They were unable to return the point giving the Tornado the second game win with a final of 26-24.
The Norwich JV team stayed undefeated on the season with their 3-0 win over the younger Lady Warriors. The Tornado JV took home the victory with impressive play as well as large margin wins in each game.
The Lady Purple Tornado varsity, now 2-2 overall (1-1 league play), will attend the tournament at Johnson City on Saturday but their next junior varsity-varsity match will take place on Tuesday at Susquehanna Valley. JV match will start at 5 p.m. while the varsity will follow.
Norwich 3, Chenango Valley 0
25-23, 26-24, 25-9
Norwich: Kylie Marvin 1 ace, 1 kill, 3 digs; Riley Strong 1 ace, 11 assists; Chloe Winton 1 kill; Alexis Whaley 11 service points, 5 aces; Lexi Taylor 5 aces 4 kills 7 digs; Mia Maiurano 3 kills, 5 digs; Sam Binelli 3 digs; Virginia Maiurano 1 assist, 3 kills, 3 digs; Gabby Eddy 1 ace; 9 kills, 1 dig; Francesca Salerno 2 aces, 5 assists.
Chenango Valley: Faith Riegal 3 aces, 2 blocks; Brittany Kropp 3 aces; Faith Fassett 3 kills, 2 blocks; Danielle Jewson 4 assists; Alyvia Brown 12 digs.
Oxford 3, Delhi 1
DELHI – Oxford defeated Delhi 3-1 to win another MAC conference match up, their second of the week.
The Lady Blackhawks won the first game 25-15 but dropped the second 18-25. With the match tied at 1-1, Oxford won the third game by just four points (25-21).
Determined to not see a fifth game in the match, the Blackhawks put the Bulldogs away with 25-16 game four win to bring home the road victory.
