Patriot spikers win Heritage invite

MONROEVILLE — The Patriots were hoping to get off to a better start this year after opening 2009 with nine straight losses. But it would have been difficult to imagine the turn-around they achieved thus far.
With a three-match sweep of the Heritage Invitational Saturday, the Jay County High School volleyball team has already surpassed its win total from the entire 2009 season.
The squad rallied from game-one losses for each of its first two victories at Heritage, defeating Canterbury 19-25, 25-15, 15-7 and Heritage 20-25, 25-22, 15-12. Its championship-clinching victory over New Haven also went the distance, with the Patriots pulling out a 25-21, 10-25, 15-12 win to earn the title.
Mariah Hornaday set the tone for the Patriots (6-3), who dropped their first two matches of the year but are 6-1 since, racking up double digit kills in each of the three matches. She had 11 in the victory over Heritage and racked up 31 for the day to go along with 23 service points and seven blocks.
Senior Sierra Weatherhead dominated Canterbury from the service line with 14 points, including four aces. She finished the day with team highs of 23 points, 17 digs and six aces.
Tanner Martin had 16 of her 37 assists in the victory over New Haven. Maria Murphy followed Hornaday with 22 kills, and Alyssa Rigby totaled 16 digs.
Two of the Patriots’ three losses have come against state-ranked competition — Class 3A No. 8 Delta and Class 2A No. 2 Adams Central.[[In-content Ad]]