NEW MATAMORAS - The visiting Monroe Central Seminoles rallied to win the final two games on their way to a 3-2 win over the upset-minded Frontier Cougars in a crucial Pioneer Valley Conference volleyball match Tuesday night.
The Seminoles claimed the first game by a 25-13 score before dropping games two and three to the Cougars by identical 25-22 scores.
The Cougars moved out to an early 3-1 lead in game four before the Noles put together a 5-0 lead sparked by an ace from Chelsie Roberts to take a 6-3 lead.
Article Photos
MIKE MORRISON The Marietta Times
Monroe Central’s Chelsie Roberts (7), right, and Kelsie Rinard (15), left, shake hands after the Noles defeated the Cougars in five games.
FHS went on a run of its own sparked by the play of seniors' Kelsie Rinard and Christin Douglass to pull even at 8-8.
Rinard totaled 14 kills, nine blocks and four digs in the game, while Douglass produced 15 kills, 16 digs, and three points.
"Christin played a really good game for us tonight, she's been playing really good volleyball," said Cougar assistant coach Trista Murphy. "They're a nice one-two punch (Rinard and Douglass) and we are pretty fortunate to have them."
Fact Box
At Frontier High School
Monroe Central d. Frontier 25-13, 22-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-12
Monroe Central (16-2)
Anne Lafollette: 3 blocks, Cameron Brock: 19 assists, 2 blocks, Chelsie Tewanger: 12 kills, 14 digs, Chelsie Roberts: 19 kills, 2 blocks, 25 digs, 14 points, 3 assists, Amanda Haslam: 12 points, 4 assists, 34 digs, Elizabeth Robey: 8 kills, Melanie Stimpert: 10 point, 3 aces, 25 assists.
Next Game: Thursday, Home vs. Shenandoah.
Frontier (11-8)
Kaylee Hurst: 13 digs, 2 blocks, 2 aces, Chelsea Hayes: 1 dig, Emily Hinton: 32 assists, 1 block, 9 digs, Breanne Scott: 8 digs, Kelsie Rinard: 14 kills, 9 blocks, 4 digs, Christin Douglass: 15 kills, 16 digs, 3 points, Corisa Fickiesen: 5 kills, 6 digs, 4 blocks, Laken Camino: 4 kills, 4 digs.
Next Game: Thursday, Home vs. Caldwell
Junior Varsity Game: Monroe Central (2-1) 25-15, 13-25, 25-14.
The two PVC rivals matched one another blow for blow through most of the game and were tied at 13-13 halfway through game four.
The momentum seemed to shift towards Monroe Central when Chelsie Tewanger came up with a kill to send the Noles out to a 15-13 lead.
That kill and a great team effort that saved a ball that appeared destined to fall untouched for a Cougar point propelled MC out to an 18-13 lead.
"That's a tough spot to be in when your down one game to two," said Seminole head coach Troy Baker. "I thought our girls stepped it up there and got the points when we needed them."
Monroe Central never allowed the Cougars to get any closer than two points the rest of game four to force the fifth and deciding game.
Kills by Elizabeth Robey and Telwanger gave Monroe Central an early 2-0 lead in the final game before the Cougars came charging back to even things up at 4-4.
Baker felt Robey's play down the stretch was key to the Seminole victory.
"I thought Elizabeth Robey came up with some big time kills for us there," said Baker of Robey, who totaled eight kills in the game.
The Seminoles put together a mini three-point run to take an 7-4 lead but the Cougars came roaring back once again to tie things up at 8-8.
A pair of unforced errors allowed the Noles to pull back up by a pair, and the Cougars get no closer than a point the rest of the way with Tewanger closing things out for a 15-12 final game win.
"A couple of things didn't go our way but I felt our girls fought hard tonight," said Murphy. "It was just a well-played game by two pretty good teams."
The win improved Monroe Central's season mark to 16-2 and 10-1 in the PVC with a crucial battle with conference leader Shenandoah looming at home Thursday night.
After giving Shenandoah a hard-fought battle as well on Monday night, the 11-8 Cougars have to be pleased with their play this week against a pair of teams with a 34-3 combined record on the season.
"It is very good for us to play this caliber team with the sectional tournament coming up next week," said Murphy. "We're finishing against the best teams."
Frontier is schedule to host the Caldwell Redskins on Thursday night.
