G-A takes down Maidens for 1st time in 3 years

Greencastle-Antrim's girls volleyball team came out swinging Tuesday evening.

Facing off against a rival they hadn't beaten in three years, the Blue Devils used a well-balanced offense to take down Waynesboro in straight sets. G-A won the Mid Penn Keystone match, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-16.

Keri Gearhart led the team with 13 kills, while Chloe McKenzie and Rachel Verhoef recorded seven apiece and Madee Goodwin and Baylee Schaeffer each contributed five.

"We've definitely been working a lot on our offense," Gearhart said. "I know our defense has been struggling a bit, but whenever our team comes on strong the first set or two, it really carries on to the rest of the match."

The only time Greencastle (6-6, 4-3 MPC) was really challenged was in the second set. The Maidens (8-6, 4-4 MPC) led by as many as 16-11 before G-A went on a bit of a run. Waynesboro was forced to take a pair of timeouts because by the time the run ended, Greencastle led 19-16.

"The passing stayed consistent, but it was really a nice serving run where we got to be a little more aggressive," G-A coach Corry Eagler said. "Our defense picked up so that we could continue to serve. We started slow in that second game, but I was proud that they didn't get distracted or upset by the fact that we were losing."

Once again in the second set, Waynesboro showed glimmers of hope when it thwarted five straight Greencastle set points. But each time the Maidens gained momentum, it seemed to wash away quickly.

"We did not show up, and that is troubling," Waynesboro coach Kim Saunders said. "I felt it yesterday in practice, and I felt it tonight, and I knew it was going to start like that. We are not cherishing the game the way we should. We've had enough injuries this year that every time six people step on the court, they should cherish the opportunity and go all out."

According to Saunders, the Maidens are currently suffering from four injuries - a broken wrist, a broken ankle, a torn ACL and a foot fracture. Some of those players have been out since the first G-A match on Sept. 8.

"We've had a few players go down this season, and that's hurt us a little bit," 'Boro senior Ciara Rosenberger said. "Today, no one was working together; the team was all over the place. Defense was not picking up any balls, and the offense just couldn't run without any defense. It was tough."

Rosenberger led the Maidens with 14 kills.