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WELLSTON - The style of play from the Western Lady Indians was nothing at all what the Waterford Lady Wildcats are used to and as a result they played nothing like normal.

Western's slow paced, hesitant offense had the Lady 'Cats playing sluggish and a step ahead of their opponent but even that wasn't nearly enough to keep Waterford from picking up a three game 25-20, 25-20, 25-14 sweep of the Lady Indians at Wellston High School Thursday night. "Not our best effort, but enough to get by," said Waterford volleyball coach Don Miller. Enough to get by had the Lady Wildcats in control throughout the night despite playing far below their true capabilities.

Part of that was due to the number of free balls from Western and the slow speed at which the Lady Indians hit their spikes but an equal amount was due to the Lady Wildcats presence in the district tournament.

"I think it was a matter of nerves. Waterford hasn't been to a district final since 1995," Miller said.

Settling the nerves and getting rolling certainly took the Lady 'Cats some time, but they were never seriously threatened by Western.

The Lady Indians never held a lead larger than two points and that margin came on the first two points of the night as a net interference call and an ace from Angela Jenkins started the night's opening game.

Waterford quickly tied the first set at 2-2 but it wasn't until a block from junior Kim Barker that made the score 6-5 in favor of Waterford that the Lady 'Cats had the lead for good.

A serve into the net by Western ended the first game at 25-20 in favor of Waterford.

The second game followed a similar pattern as it was a seesaw affair early until Waterford took the lead for good at 6-5, this time on a kill from junior Tana Wallace, with the round of dj' vu completed when Western hit the ball into the net for a 25-20 Lady 'Cat win.

After the first two games were settled by five points each Waterford finally took command in the evening's third game, beginning to put down emphatic kills and roaring out to a 16-4 lead.

"It took me a game and a half to get them settled," Miller said.

Leading by 12 points Waterford maintained its' double digit lead nearly nonstop for the remainder of the final game, allowing it to slip to no less than eight points before pushing it back into double figures.

Sophomore Alicia Donahue's spike ended the match and Western's season as Waterford took the final game 25-14.

Though they took the win in a pretty commanding and easy fashion, the Lady 'Cats still have room for improvement before Saturday's district final match up with the Eastern Beaver Eagles, who knocked off Notre Dame in three quick games Thursday.

"We have to hit holes better. There were times tonight we were not swinging at the ball," Miller said.

Miller and the Lady 'Cats are hopeful that all changes come Saturday, when they play back at Wellston approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the Reedsville Eastern and Portsmouth Clay game, slated for 4 p.m.

"We just get to keep playing," Miller said.

WATERFORD (16-7): Bethany Dailey 10 pts 2 aces 28 assists; Emily Brown 11 kills 1 block 2 digs; Kim Barker 8 pts 1 ace 13 kills 4 blocks 2 digs; Lauren Bosner 2 assists 3 kills 1 block 3 digs; Tana Wallace 2 pts 6 kills 4 digs; Alicia Donahue 3 kills; Kaitlin Pottmeyer 2 pts 1 kill; Brooke Drayer 2 pts 1 assist 3 kills 2 digs; Marissa Schott 6 assists 1 dig; Olivia Sprague 4 pts 8 digs; Chelsey Paxton 3 pts 1 kill 4 digs; Payden Sury 1 assist

WESTERN (16-6): Angela Jenkins 5 pts 2 aces 15 assists 2 kills; Chelsie Scott 4 pts; Kelcie Hawk 1 pt 1 ace 7 kills; Tabby Riley 2 pts 1 ace 2 kills; Kala Hall 2 pts 5 kills 1 block; Morgan Ross 1 pt 1 assist 3 kills

Next game: Waterford vs. Eastern Beaver, district final at Wellston High School, 20 minutes following the conclusion of the 4 p.m. game