McNary defensive specialist Chloe Farr digs a ball off a Corvallis serve. The Celtics defeated Corvallis in straight sets on Thursday, March 18 (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).
Corvallis proved to be no match for the McNary volleyball team on Thursday, March 18 as the Celtics defeated the Spartans 25-7, 25-14, 25-7.
The win over Corvallis not only marked a 5-0 start to the season, but also a 15-set win streak for the Celtics.
“They are just taking advantage of the opportunity. They are hungry. They have been off the court for so long,” McNary head coach Crystal DeMello said. “They all love the game so much and I couldn’t be more proud of how they are coming out and just taking care of the ball. It is good to see.”
After winning the first set handily, McNary continued their domination in the following game, scoring 20 of the first 24 points. Corvallis made a comeback to make the score a little more respectable, but Maddison Corpe and Eliana Dean finished the set with kills to seal the game two victory.
With such a large lead for much of the match, DeMello was able to get many of her younger and more inexperienced players some more extensive varsity minutes.
“Seventy percent of your season is spent in training and in practice but game time is just naturally faster. You have your adrenaline pumping. For them to learn how to control their emotions and out their skill and technique into play is huge,” DeMello said. “To execute everything they have been trying to do, but to do it in a game setting is a completely different mindset. I’m happy with them. They are excelling in the experience.
Kills from Maddox Snider and Trinity Kampstra, as well as four aces from Taylor Ebbs gave the Celtics a 9-0 lead in game three.
DeMello commented on how her team’s ability to serve at a high level gives them a big advantage over opponents.
“Serving is the name of the game. That is how we get our runs and how we get momentum. Serving well drives an entire piece of the game and it really paid off for us tonight,” DeMello said.
A mini rally from Corvallis helped them cut the lead to 11-4 in the third set, but the Celtics responded emphatically.
Back-to-back kills by Emily Blagg, an ace by Dean, along with kills by Ebbs and Snider extended McNary’s advantage to 19-5. The Celtics then scored six of the next seven to end the match with an 18-point game three victory.
McNary will play host to McKay on Monday, March 22 at 7:15 p.m.