East Juniata   3, Sugar Valley 0

EJ  26 25 25

SV 24 19 23

By Kenny Varner

LOGANTON – Round two.

Tuesday, the East Juniata and Sugar Valley volleyball teams renewed acquaintances with the Phoenix hosting this meeting.

Sugar Valley was trying to even the season series as it fell in its first meeting 3-0 (18-25, 19-25 and 13-25).

“I thought our girls played a tremendous game. They had effort, heart. They stuck with it. They were down and came back in that last game. They were up a point down a point and they stuck with it,” said Sugar Valley coach JT Bitner. “It’s a tough loss. It breaks my heart to see them lose that type of game.”

This one turned out to be quite a battle as well but it would be the Lady Tigers that came out on top winning 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-23).

“ I am very proud. There were a couple times they had me worried but the came back,” said East Juniata coach Courtney Whitsel. “They came in and played very well together.”

The Phoenix had strong outputs from   Cheyenne Weaver. Weaver finished her night with nine service points. Teammate Izzy Curly had seven while Marrin Clester finished with 10 points from the service line.

In the first game, the Phoenix rolled off six consecutive service points from Weaver, putting her team ahead 7-2.

East Juniata chipped their way back into it as they closed in on a 3-0 run.

Maggie Burge brought the Tigers back to within three at 8-5.

The game remained close with Sugar Valley leading  by a 10-8 advantage.

But the line started to come alive when Addison Dimm started to sizzle from the service line. She rolled off five consecutive service points. Two of those serves were aces.

With the Tigers leading 14-10, the Phoenix weren’t done yet.

With scoring spurts from Olivia Clester and Lyla Breon put their team ahead 16-15.

After five consecutive side outs, Sugar Valley took back the lead at 19-18 on an ace by Marrin Clester.

Back battled the Lady Tigers as the put the ball in Shana Burd’s hand. She ran off two consecutive points. Highlighting the run was a screaming blast by Dimm, taking a 22-20 advantage.

But the Phoenix would rise once again tying the contest and then putting the game at a 23-22 advantage. Picking up the service points was Jaelynn Walker.

In the end, Sugar Valley fell just short when East Juniata server Annuncia Fusta put the game on ice, muscling out a 26-24 nail biting win.

In the second game, the two teams would go toe-to-toe against each other as the Tigers took a slim 9-8 lead.

Early on in the contest, Sugar Valley opened a 7-4 lead on 3-point Culvey scoring run.

East Juniata broke the game open taking a 15-9 advantage.

Sugar Valley made a valiant comeback effort, cutting their deficit to 22-19 before the Tigers would get hot late, taking the six point victory.

In the final game, the Phoenix took a late 16-10 advantage, trying to add another game in the match.

But the Tigers once again battled back to capture the 25-23 victory.

In the JV contest, the Lady Tigers took the victory 2-1, winning 15-12 in the deciding game.