Another wrinkle has been added to the saga of the ACAC volleyball season. A few days after South Adams eliminated Woodlan from the ACAC tournament at Heritage Saturday, the Warriors stormed back in the StarDome and won a five-set marathon. The loss for South Adams is their second in a row after dropping the championship match over the weekend to Adams Central, but the ACAC waters could get even murkier on Thursday if South Adams can bounce back and beat the Jets in a match that will be heard live on 92.7 FM.
Home Starfire fans should have known it was going to be a tough night after the JV lost in three sets, 25-20, 24-25, 15-9, and Woodlan backed that up with a convincing win in the opening varsity set at 25-15.
The Starfires bounced back to win the second set 25-22 and make it a best-of-three match, but Woodlan won the third set 25-19 to apply pressure to the home team and their hopes for an unbeaten ACAC regular season.
South Adams responded again in the fourth with a 25-16 victory, but it was Woodlan who ultimately prevailed, taking the shortened fifth set 15-12.
Macy Pries finished with 19 digs to lead the Starfires in the five-set thriller, while Laney Trausch finished with 21 assists. Pries was also the team leader in kills with 14, with Reagan Bollenbacher close behind her with 12.
Thursday’s tussle at Adams Central could create a potential rubber match between the two rivals at the 2A sectional if the Starfires can even the season series at 1-1. Coach Ashley Buckingham’s team will likely appreciate the opportunity to play a best-of-five match at the Hangar after losing 2-0 in the shortened format over the weekend.