Fortkamp fires Tribe past Jay

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The Indians weren’t the best at receiving the Patriot serves in the first set.

And even with a two-sets-to-one advantage later in the match, the reception still proved to be a problem.

Once they got back on track, Paige Fortkamp helped put the Patriots away.

Fortkamp fired seven of her match-high 16 kills in the fourth set and the Fort Recovery High School volleyball team shook off a late push to beat state-line rival Jay County Patriots 17-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 Tuesday.

“Jay County, they are a whole different ball club,” said FRHS coach Chelsea Kahlig, whose team moves to 8-1 on the season. “I knew coming in it was going to be a fight. I knew the crowd was going to be feisty and loud.

“That’s the kind of environment that’s going to prepare us for (Midwest Athletic Conference) games.”

Fort Recovery struggled offensively in the start of the fourth set as a double hit and two attack errors helped put Jay County out front 4-0. The Patriots, who had won five straight matches to start the season, later led 10-4 and forced Kahlig into using her second timeout.

Paige Jutte, whose nine kills were third on the team, ended the streak before Whitley Rammel fired one of her 11 kills, starting a four-point swing for the Indians. Kierra Wendel, a defensive leader for the Indians with 19 digs, recorded one of her four aces as well as the Tribe pulled to within two, 10-8.

Trailing 12-9, a pair of Fortkamp kills, a Marissa Gaerke kill and a spike from Rammel helped the Indians go out front 14-12.

“The difference in game one and even the start of game four was the passing,” Kahlig said. “We were not passing well. It was very readable where we were putting the ball and they were able to pick up things a lot easier.”

First-year Jay County coach Karley Reid said once the Indians got within their offensive rhythm, she was surprised with the speed at which they went to work.

“Their hitters, they were having quick swings and our block wasn’t getting there,” Reid said. “It was quicker than what we were used to. We were just having trouble getting our defense around or blocks where our blocks were going up.”

Despite being down 2-1 and trailing 20-15 late in the set, Jay County continued to fight. After an Indian tip attempt didn’t make it over the net, Natalie Miles blocked an attack for a quick two JCHS points.

The Indians grabbed four of the next five points, however, for a 24-18 lead. Still, the Patriots fought. Miles, who led Jay County in both kills (eight) and digs (19), notched a pair of kills and Alana Kunkler (seven kills) had one as the Patriots made it 24-21. But a service error, at times troublesome for both teams, ended the match.

“Our energy is what helps us win our games so when we start seeing our girls getting down — and they see it too — they’re the first ones (to react),” Reid said. “They drop it and they’re able to fix their mistakes. We just couldn’t finish it tonight.”

Although Fort Recovery had a 45-28 edge in kills, they didn’t come easy for either team. Both squads have considerable height at the net, and many of the attacks were met with multiple blockers and didn’t got through cleanly.

Fortkamp, however, was able to use her powerful swings to strike through or deflect off the Jay County block attempts.

“She kind of started slow,” Kahlig said. “Her power is what got through. They could not handle her power and her strength. We’re very comfortable with her swinging the ball. Setters are doing a good job of finding who’s hot.

“I didn’t love how we played, but I liked the situation we were in tonight to prepare us for what’s ahead.”

Setters Chloe Showalter (Fort Recovery) and Pacie Denney (Jay County) both had 21 assists.