By Chris Metcalf
LCAA’S FINEST
PERRY – Host Perry picked up the LCAA D-III title Thursday night following their clean sweep over York, securing their first divisional crown in 14 years.
Perry won by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-9.
Senior outside hitter Kylee Baxter had a stellar night serving up 12 points, including nine aces. She also added 14 digs and three kills.
Baxter played a key role in Perry’s first set, a come-from-behind win.
Jessah Morris had a team-high 12 kills and five blocks while Keira Weber recorded 11 kills and three blocks.
Nellie Koronas dished out a game-high 31 assists to go with five digs, two blocks and one ace as the Lady Yellowjackets improved to 12-6 overall and 7-1) in the division.
Perry, who started the season 4-6, won their final eight matches of the regular season and will be headed to sectional play with a lot of momentum.
York was led by Ariana Roessel who recorded 13 digs, seven kills and two aces while Paola Rios-Santiago had 15 digs. Mia Hilyard contributed five kills, two blocks and one dig for the Lady Knights, who fell to 11-6 (6-2 in D-III).
The first set really set the tone with back-and-forth action from each team.
With Perry holding a 14-10 advantage, York rattled off seven straight points following junior Ariana Roessel’s kill shot that gave York the serve.
Later in the set, and York holding the 21-17 lead, Perry senior Kylee Baxter spearheaded an eight-point run with several strong serves, including a pair of aces, that closed out the 25-21 set.
Perry would dominate the rest of the match.
Perry head coach Karin Rice was proud of her team’s effort and resilience throughout the season.
.“We have been focused all season on sticking together,” coach Rice said. “Through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. It takes a lot to break a losing culture within a program and these kids have worked so hard to not only prepare physically, but mentally for the high stakes and high pressure moments to get the respect they deserve as a team and a school. I could not be more proud of the team effort we put forth tonight. We made it a goal to win division this year and they achieved exactly that by being mentally tough and working together.”
Doug McFarland Photography
