1-vs.-2 match goes to Solon

SOLON - The expert can point to complex things like tempo and serve reception.

But sometimes, it also comes down to the obvious, what even the casual observer can see.

And this was obvious: Solon can tee off at the net.

Jordan Smith drilled 24 kills, and the Class 3A top-ranked Spartans more than doubled No. 2 Mount Vernon in kills on their way to a four-set triumph (25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15) in a Wamac Conference East Division volleyball showdown in front of a paid crowd of 850 Thursday night at Solon High School.

'We've got a lot of good hitters, and they adjust well,” said Solon setter Taylor Nearad. 'We were really excited to play this match. We've been looking forward to it since the beginning of the week.”

Solon (2-0 overall, 1-0 Wamac East) is down a class after finishing second at state in 4A each of the last two years. For now, consider the Spartans the team to beat.

'They played the better match,” Mount Vernon Coach Maggie Willems said. 'Credit goes absolutely to them. They controlled the match out of their serve reception and defensive transition.”

And they can, as the Solon student section proclaimed, 'bring the hammer.”

Jordan Runge added 16 kills as the Spartans out-killed Mount Vernon (1-1, 0-1) by a 56-26 margin.

'Our hitting was improved from last week,” said Solon Coach Peter Gustin. 'The whole philosophy is to pass the ball and get it to our hitters.

'Our passing was spectacular, and our serving kept them out of system.”

Solon was particularly dominant in a stretch from midway through the first game throughout the second. Down 14-12 in the opener, the Spartans didn't allow Mount Vernon to score a service point until after they had built a 16-8 advantage in Game 2.

Mount Vernon salvaged the third game after Solon had rallied from a 23-18 deficit to tie it at 23. Emma Cochrane had two straight kills to extend the match to a a fourth game.

Solon led that one from start to finish, constructing a nine-point run (highlighted by five kills and a block by Smith) midway through that made it 20-8.

'We've got some very good hitters (in Smith and Runge),” said Nearad, who distributed 43 assists. 'They both get very excited about what they do.”

Kaitlyn Volesky and Alli Platte led the Mustangs with seven kills apiece. Morgan Melchert collected 25 assists.

SOLON 3, MOUNT VERNON 1 (25-19, 25-13, 23-25, 25-15)

At Solon

Serving: Mount Vernon 64-73 (.877), Solon 82-96 (.854); Aces: Mount Vernon 4 (four with 1), Solon 4 (Jordan Runge, Taylor Nearad 2); Kills: Mount Vernon 26 (Alli Platte, Kaitlyn Volesky 7), Solon 56 (Jordan Smith 24); Assists: Mount Vernon 26 (Morgan Melchert 25), Solon 51 (Nearad 43); Blocks: Mount Vernon 6 (Platte 3), Solon 11 (Courtney Smyth 5).

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