GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Saturday's roundup, McConnellsburg places 3rd at own tournament

MCCONNELLSBURG >> It was a tough day for local teams at the 27th-annual Lady Spartan girls volleyball tournament.

McConnellsburg put up the best fight, as it finished third in pool play. But only the top two teams advanced – Bedford and Heritage battled it out in the championship match, with Heritage winning, 25-18 and 25-17.

The Lady Spartans finished 5-3 in pool play, while James Buchanan was 2-6 and Shippensburg was 1-7.

McConnellsburg swept both the Rockets and the Lady Hounds. The Spartans beat JB, 25-21 and 25-22, and earned victories over Ship, 25-22 and 25-19. Their only other win came against Heritage in a split. After losing the first set, 25-18, the Spartans won the second, 27-26.

James Buchanan got one of its wins against Heritage, 27-25, and one against the Hounds, 25-22. Ship's only win came against the Rockets, 25-22.

MERCERSBURG 3, SHENANDOAH VALLEY 2 >> Despite being down 2-0, Mercersburg Academy rallied for a non-league victory over Shenandoah Valley.

After managing only 12 and 17 points in the first two sets, respectively, the Blue Storm (2-0) turned up the heat. They earned a narrow victory, 25-23, in the third set, before dominating the final two.

Tori Yoder led the offense with 12 kills and seven blocks, while Mallory Sipes had 11 assists.

"We played timid during the first two sets," Mercersburg coach Katie LaRue said. "With a few in-game adjustments and a more aggressive attack approach, we were able to complete the comeback."

Mercersburg 3 Shenandoah Valley 2

Sets — 25-12 SV, 25-17 SV, 25-23 Merc, 25-14 Merc, 15-6 Merc

at New Market, Va.

Mercersburg Statistics

Kills — Tori Yoder 12; Blocks — Yoder 7; Assists — Mallory Sipes 11; Digs — Hannah Hassoun 2; Aces — Sipes 6, Yoder 5.