North Penn-Liberty ends Wellsboro's unbeaten season

By: Ed Weaver  /  September 20, 2017

Undefeated NTL volleyball rivals Wellsboro and North Penn-Liberty squared off at Wellsboro on Tuesday, September 19 with the Lady Mounties coming home with the win.

With both team's entering Tuesday's game undefeated at 6-0, and coming off of tough, non-league matches Monday night, Liberty took an early 10-4 over the Lady Hornets in the first set. Wellsboro battled back and closed in on Liberty's lead but the Lady Mounties fended off the Hornets, winning 25-21.

"Whenever you win the first set it always sets the tone and give the girls a positive feel for the rest of the game," said Liberty head coach Holli Smith.

Liberty controlled the second set and found multiple holes in Wellsboro's defense to win 25-14.

With Liberty up 2-0, the Lady Hornets then regrouped in the third set. Wellsboro's defense came up with huge blocks on Liberty kill attempts to swing the momentum before senior Brianne Keane found a opening in the Lady Mounties' defense to win the third set, 25-20.

Wellsboro started the fourth set with the lead, but it soon was washed away as Liberty capitalized off mistakes to take the lead late in the set. Liberty then came up with some huge kills to close out the set, 25-19, and win 3-1.

"Both of these teams are very strong," said Wellsboro head coach Sharon Zuchowski. "They both play a lot in the off-season and it goes to show all the hard work and dedication these girls put in. Everybody left everything they had on the court tonight."

Charisma Grega led North Penn-Liberty with 2 aces, 15 points, 12 kills, 2 blocks, and 15 digs; Savannah Doney added 3 kills, 6 points, 30 receptions, 1 assist, and 13 digs; Maddison Minyo had 3 aces, 11 points, 6 kills, and 2 blocks; Brooke Harvey had 2 aces, 10 points, 5 kills, 13 receptions, and 9 digs; JoAnne McNamara added 3 points, 3 kills, 17 assists, and 5 digs; and Elli Fry recorded 6 kills, 4 blocks, and 1 dig.

For Wellsboro, senior Cheyenne Sherman had 9 kills, 11 points, 2 aces, and 14 digs; sophomore Caitlyn Callahan had 7 kills and 4 blocks; junior Heidi Zuchowski recorded 5 kills, 5 points, and 2 aces; sophomore Megan Starkweather scored 10 points; senior Hannah Burnett made 17 digs; and Keane had 24 assists.

Liberty also won the JV game 2-0 (25-18, 26-24) to end Wellsboro's 27-game win streak dating back to last season.

The win improves Liberty's record to 7-0 (5-0 NTL Large School Division) and drops Wellsboro to 6-1 (4-1 NTL Large School Division). The Lady Hornets are back in action on the road at Wyalusing on Thursday, September 21.