Philipsburg-Osceola muscles out victory over tough Bald Eagle volleyball team
Sep 20, 2022

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Two legendary volleyball teams met up Tuesday as Bald Eagle Area played host to returning District 6 champion, Philipsburg-Osceola and their phenom Reece Hazelton.

In the end, the Lady Mounties came out on top sweeping the Eagles 3-0 in three competitive matches.

Philipsburg-Osceola took the contest 25-19,25-21 and 25-17.

The Eagles did a good job against Hazelton’s spikes and slams, posting clutch digs and continuing numerous serves.

“We have a good defense. We had a game plan and we stuck to it,” said Bald Eagle coach Zach Rote. “Just looking around this gym and we have the passers to do it. We have the defense to do it. We have the athletes. We just tried to execute the best we could.”

However, on this night Hazelton was very effective from the serving line and with cross court shots as well as dinks in the middle.

In the first match, the two teams battled throughout the match, exchanging numerous side outs.

With the score tied at 12, the Mounties began to pull away.

Taking the lead at 13-12 on a Philipsburg-Osceola side out, Hazelton took her turn at the server line and picked up two service points. Both weren’t returned, putting her team up 15-12.

The two continued to exchange side outs.

Bald Eagle continued to keep battling.

The Mounties gave itself some breathing room.

Posting a 19-16 lead, the Mounties gave the ball to server Annie Johnson. She posted two more consecutive points.

On her first serve, Bald Eagle’s return shot went long.

The second point came on a Hazelton cross court blast, making it a 21-16 contest.

From there the two continued its exchanges its side outs for a third time, with just a point on serve coming from Hazelton, en route to taking the first game.

Bald Eagle picked up valuable service points by Taylor Hall (2) and Leah Bryan.

In the second contest, the Eagles got off to a strong start.

After falling behind early 3-1, the Eagles went on a scoring run of its own, pulling ahead going on a 7-3 run.

In the run, the Eagles got Two consecutive service points again from Hall and Bryan.

The eagles would keep the lead at three until they held a 13-10 advantage.

But the Mounties mounted a comeback, led once again by Hazelton on the service line. She sizzled going on an 8-0 run, putting the game out of reach at 18-13.

Despite falling behind, the Eagles battled back thanks to the frontline play of Phoebe Fisher and Mya Brooks.

Philipsburg still was able to ride out the contest thanks to play from Sophie Granville and Lauren Dugan.

In the end, the Lady Mounties won 25-21.

Things started off slow for the Eagles in the third game, falling behind 7-1.

Philipsburg-Osceola got four early service points by Maddy Lumadue .

Bald retaliated with two points from Alexis Frank, cutting it to a 7-4 contest.

Like previously in the contest, the Mounties extended the lead back up.

This time Dugan was able to reel off four consecutive service points en route to the victory.

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