AKRON - While homecoming week hits a fevered pitch tonight when the Valley football team takes the field, the volleyball team buoyed school spirit Thursday with a 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 win over rival Manchester.

All three games were like watching the same episode of a TV show. Valley jumped out to an early lead, the Squires battled back to take a lead, but the Vikings rallied late to be triumphant.

In the first game, Valley jumped out to a 15-10 lead on a questionable call when Amanda Wiley's serve was called in. Valley rode the momentum lost by the Squires. Manchester got as close as 20-16 with Whitney Woods serving before falling 25-17.

The strong serving of Lindsay Wiley and good attacking volleyball up front pushed the Vikings to an early 5-0 lead in the second game. The momentum swung in Manchester's direction when Hayley Wilcox chased a ball that was heading out of bounds, behind the referee's chair and placed a over-the-shoulder bump shot that sailed across the net for a Squire point and an 8-7 lead.

The Squires were up as late as 19-18 in the second game before Valley made its second late run to win 25-23

In the third and decisive game, the Vikings found themselves up 4-0. Manchester, as they had done all night, fought back like a prize fighter on the ropes. The Squires had runs of five and four straight points to lead 18-12.

Undaunted, Valley answered with a five-point run of its own. Valley once again caught up late and won on a Holli Jackson spike.

For Manchester coach Mike West, his team's effort is there but confidence may be lacking.

"I think confidence is the key. They're getting real close. I told them before and after the game that if you play 110 percent and you still get beat, who cares? I told them they played hard, played with desire and you never gave up," said West.

While Valley didn't play its best volleyball of the season, the Vikings battled enough to the liking of coach Jon Hutton.

"It just seemed like we weren't able to bring our offense up and into play. And there was a lot of frustration with that. We seem to peak in the end and valley in the middle, ironically enough. We came back with our serving at the end of those games. Our key is getting up and being in our system," said Hutton.

The Vikings, 14-2 overall and 2-0 in the TRC, host the Valley Tournament, opening against Knox Saturday.

VALLEY DEF. MANCHESTER 25 -17, 25 -23, 25 -20

(Valley leaders)

Kills - Heather Rathbun 12, Holli Jackson 12, Amanda Wiley-9

Assists - Lindsay Wiley-24

Aces - Amanda Wiley 4, Lindsay Wiley 3

Digs - Amanda Wiley 8, Lindsay Wiley 6

Points -ÊAmanda Wiley 13, Lindsay Wiley 12

Blocks - Heather Rathbun 2, Holli Jackson 2, Lindsay Wiley 2

(Manchester leaders)

Kills - Jade Kennedy 5, Hayley Wilcox 4

Blocks - Wilcox 4

Stuffs - Wilcox 4, Kennedy 4

Points - Brittany Fratus 11

JV - Valley def. Manhcester 25-22, 25-21

(Valley leaders)

Kills - Chelsy Rhoades 9, Chelsea Eaton 5

Assists - Taylor Stoll 16

Aces - Chelsy Rhoades 6, Adela Zmelikova 2

Digs - Steph Hoover 4, Chelsy Rhoades 3, Chelsea Eaton 3

Points - Chelsy Rhoades 8, Taylor Stoll 7 [[In-content Ad]]