AKRON - If the opening night affair between the Tippecanoe Valley and Wawasee volleyball teams was any indication as to how each school’s seasons will go, fans of each side can expect some exciting action. An incredibly tight and back-and-forth contest had a little bit of everything, with the Lady Vikings emerging with a 3-2 (25-18, 13-25, 25-14, 18-25, 15-10) win, giving Valley’s Jon Hutton a win in his first game in Akron.
The match began with a first set that set the tone for the night’s intensity in a major way. Neither team was able to take a two-point lead for the first 10 points of the game. Momentum shifted constantly as both sides traded points like boxers in a heavyweight fight. Wawasee would lead just once, briefly going up 4-3 in the early going following an electric rally. The Lady Vikings were finally able to find a bit of separation, going up by three points at 7-4, and keeping the lead at three for a majority of the first set. Valley would find even more breathing room later on, as senior libero Erika Henderson would string together a couple of aces to extend the Lady Viking lead to eight at 19-11 and force a timeout.

    Wawasee senior Jolie Likens (L) and junior Mackenzie Hackleman both go for the ball during the first game of Tuesday night's match at Tippecanoe Valley.
 

The quick break in action would pay dividends for the Lady Warriors. With junior Mackenzie Hackleman serving, Wawasee was able to rip off five straight points and shrink the lead down to five. However, that would be as close as the visitors would get. After going back and forth for a few more points, the Lady Vikings secured an opening set victory with a 25-18 win.
The match’s second game began with the same flow the first did. The Lady Vikings scored the first two points of the match, followed by the Lady Warriors scoring the next four. After 10 points, the score was tied at 5-5. This time, it would be Wawasee jumping out to the three-point lead early on, as the Lady Warriors would score the next three to go up 8-5. Like their opponents in the game prior, the visitors were able to stay in front once acquiring the lead, putting the pressure on Valley and forcing a timeout with the home team trailing 12-8.
The Lady Warriors continued to make Valley uncomfortable after the break, scoring all five points after the timeout to extend the lead further. With Wawasee senior libero Jolie Likens putting on a clinic serving the ball, the Lady Vikings were forced to call time once again, now trailing by nine.
The timeout would provide Valley with some answers, as the home side was able to get back to within six at one point, but just temporarily. Wawasee would score the final three points of the set to secure a 25-13 victory in game two and tie the match up at 1-1.
After a rough second set, Valley was able to rebound well and take an early three-point lead in the third game. Senior Collette Blackburn was huge for the Lady Vikings in this crucial third game. The opposite hitter was a menace at the net, racking up kills and adding a few key blocks to help her team extend its lead.
The home team’s advantage remained at four for a majority of the game before a long run extended it to nine at 18-9. Similar to the previous set, the Lady Warriors would inch closer with a run of their own, trimming the lead down to six before another Tippy Valley run put the go-ahead game away for good. An ace by Valley’s Mackaylie Costello would clinch a 25-14 game three victory for the Lady Vikings and put them just a set away from an opening-night victory.
The win would not come easily however, as Wawase was able to score five of the game’s first seven points to take a quick lead. The home side responded to this adversity emphatically, scoring five straight points to go on top for the first time in the set. From this point, the teams seemed content to spend a majority of the game trading points, with neither side able to find the run that would put them up for good.
With the game tied at 10, the Lady Warriors were able to find an extra gear, scoring four straight to take their biggest lead of the game. The home team seemed to be able to answer, trimming the deficit down to one numerous times before another big Wawasee run brought the lead back up to five at 19-14 and forced a timeout. It wouldn’t do much. The Lady Warriors would cruise through the rest of the set, winning it 25-18 to force a fifth and final set.
The decisive game began as the previous four had: closely contested. Wawasee jumped out to a quick lead, scoring the first two points of the set. The Lady Vikings would answer, scoring six of the next eight to secure a two-point advantage of their own. Tippecanoe Valley would not trail again, extending its lead to as many as five before winning the final set 15-10 and the match 3-2.
The Lady Vikings also took the junior varsity match 2-1 (23-25, 25-21, 15-10). Tippy Valley has a quick turnaround, facing off at Plymouth on Wednesday night. The Lady Warriors are back in action Thursday night at home against Fairfield.