Mustangs keep place in WIC hierarchy with win over Eagles

In a matchup for placing in the WIC volleyball race, the Edgewood Mustangs brought the heat Tuesday night.

The Mustangs outhit the Eagles 38-17 in kills and eased their way to the straight-set victory 25-19, 25-12, 25-12.

It was senior night at the Eagles’ Nest and Madison Gardner started South out right with two quick service aces to give them a quick 3-1 lead.

Edgewood then got into its offense, led by outside hitter Olivia Edgeman. The Mustangs powered out to a six-point advantage, controlling the pace of play.

Gardner tried to keep the Eagles in the set, picking up another pair of aces. Savannah Robbins would close it out for Edgewood with a kill to take set one 25-19.

In set two, the Eagles went up 2-1 after a kill from Chlara Pistelli. Edgewood proceeded to take 16 of the next 17 points, with a Pistelli kill breaking up the run.

Lilah Holderfield went down with an injury and South was forced to mix up their rotation, though the hosts were never able to recover from the scoring barrage from the Mustangs. A pair of aces from Edgewood’s Elli Emmons sealed the second set victory.

The third set was much the same as the second. The Mustangs started fast and strong, jumping out 8-1. South was never able to really get its offense into the flow, but Danae Cline was giving her all in the back row, digging everything she could.

The Eagles hung around until Bella May served four straight aces and the Mustangs would pull away for the sweep 25-12.

“Danae was working overtime for us tonight. They executed very well tonight and we were not tonight. (Edgeman), when she gets going, she is pretty tough to dig,” said Eagle coach Ellen Houser.

South drops to 10-14 on the season and 4-5 in the WIC. Gardner finished with five aces and Pistelli led the attack with seven kills.

South travels to Brown County Thursday with the hopes of evening up its conference record. Then it is time to get ready for sectional, where the Eagles will take on Southmont.

Edgewood moves to 15-14 and 6-3 in the WIC, which puts them in fourth, trailing 27-1 Northview, Indian Creek and Greencastle. Edgeman had 12 kills, while Torri Coons added 8. Coons had three of the five Mustang blocks.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Kills - (SP) Pistelli 7, Cox 3, Switzer 3, Gardner 1, Mullin 1, Emmerich 1; (E) Edgeman 12, Coons 8, May 5, LaRoche 5, Robbins 3, Abram 2, Benson 2, Emmons 1

Blocks - (SP) Pistelli 1; (E) Coons 3, Edgeman 1, May 1

Aces - (SP) Gardner 5, Cox 2; (E) May 5, Robbins 3, Emmons 2