Lady Hornets fall to Liberty in D4 AA finals

By: Ed Weaver  /  November 2, 2018  /  Photo: Brian Fees

For the second year in a row the Wellsboro Varsity Volleyball team's season came to an end at the hands of rival North Penn-Liberty in the District IV Class AA finals.

In Thursday's match at Williamson High School North Penn-Liberty successfully defended their 2017 title and won their third straight championship.

Wellsboro kept it close early on in the first set but after a 3-3 tie the Lady Mounties built a 10-5 lead before Wellsboro called their first timeout. The Lady Hornets managed to cut into Liberty's lead as they trailed 14-11, but the Lady Mounties went on an 11-3 run to close out the set, 25-14.

In the second set the Lady Hornets jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Liberty built a 7-3 lead. Wellsboro rallied and got the score within a point at 9-8, but again, that was as close as Liberty let them get. The Lady Mounties built a 19-11 lead and then closed out the set 25-19.

The third set was all North Penn-Liberty. After an early 1-1 tie they went on a 16-4 run to build a 17-5 lead. After Wellsboro got one point back the Lady Mounties closed out the game on 8 straight points.

Maddison Minyo led Liberty with 14 points and 8 kills, Brooke Harvey finished with 10 digs and 6 kills, JoAnne McNamara scored 11 points, and Charisma Grega finished with 8 kills.

Junior Caitlyn Callahan had 8 kills and 3 blocks to lead the Lady Hornets, junior Ryann Adams finished with 20 digs, giving her 500 for her career, and senior Heidi Zuchowski scored 6 points and 3 kills. Sophomore Breighanna Kemp had 6 assists, senior Alaina Goetsch had 5 digs, junior Megan Starkweather recorded 6 assists and 2 blocks, and sophomore Bailey Monks pitched in with 2 points and 2 blocks.

The loss ends the Lady Hornets' season at 18-3, all three losses to North Penn-Liberty.