Girls' volleyball: Thursday's roundup, Chestnut Ridge edges McConnellsburg for SHL title

CHESTNUT RIDGE 3, MCCONNELLSBURG 2 >> McConnellsburg dropped a heartbreaking five-set match to Chestnut Ridge in the match that decided the Sideling Hill League title on Thursday – it was the Spartans' first loss on their home court.

"That was the last thing that we were holding on to," Spartan coach Heidi Johnston said. "We knew it would be a tough one for us, and it's even harder to lose that one at home. We thought we would have some advantage on our home court, but we knew it would be a battle."

McConnellsburg (15-3, 10-2 SHL) dropped the first set to Chestnut Ridge 25-19, but rebounded to win the second and third sets 25-23. But the Lions have an efficient defense that does not allow many balls to hit the floor and keep the ball in play.

Chestnut Ridge came back to win the fourth and fifth sets 25-18 and 15-8, respectively.

Carly Swope, who was out with a knee injury last week, returned to lead the Spartans with 11 kills and 25 digs. Lindsey Randler also padded the stat sheet with 35 assists, 17 digs and two aces.

"I felt that our defense was strong," Johnston said, whose team tallied more than 83 digs in the five-set game. "We played way scrappier than we sometimes do."

Johnston said despite the loss the team played well against a tough opponent, but thinks the team needs to play more aggressively in the next few matches of the postseason.

"We're not hanging our heads," she said. "We are not in bad shape, I want us to remember that, to shake off the loss and move on."

Chestnut Ridge handed McConnellsburg two of its three losses this season.

Chestnut Ridge 3

McConnellsburg 2

Sets — CR 25-19, McC 25-23, McC 25-23, CR 25-18, CR 15-8

at McConnellsburg

McConnellsburg Statistics

Kills — Carly Swope 11, Kylie Keefer 9, Kacey Hann 9, Bridgette Ritchey 7; Blocks — Keefer 6, Hann 3; Assists — Lindsey Randler 35; Digs — Swope 25, Ritchey 24, Kailey Dils 17 Randler 17; Aces — Dils 3, Randler 2.

JV score — Chestnut Ridge 3, McConnellsburg 1 (CR 22-25, McC 25-20, CR 15-3).

SOUTHERN FULTON 3, NORTHERN BEDFORD 1 >> Southern Futon broke its four-game losing streak in a 3-1 decision over Northern Bedford in a Sideling Hill League/ Inter-County Conference match to finish the season.

The Indians won the first two sets handily, 25-13, 25-12, but the Panthers challenged them in the third, forcing the set into extra points, eventually earning a 26-14 victory in game three.

Southern Fulton (8-9, 5-7 SHL, 5-5 ICC) rebounded however, winning another 25-13 set to end the match and its season.

Shaye Smartt led the Indians with nine kills, while Drew Gordon led with four blocks, 18 service points and four aces.

Southern Fulton 3, Northern Bedford

Sets — SF 25-13, SF 25-12, NB 26-24, SF 25-13

at Warfordsburg

Southern Fulton Statistics

Kills — Shaye Smartt 9, Sierra Lashley 8; Blocks — Drew Gordon 4, Lashley 2; Assists — Peyton Koons 20; Digs — Smartt 11; Service points — Gordon 18; Aces — Gordon 4.

JV score — S. Fulton 2, N. Bedford 0 (25-21, 25-18).