SPRINGFIELD TWP.: The perfect set was within reach Thursday night for the Kent Roosevelt volleyball team.
Senior Taylor Pensyl and her teammates were confident and poised with a large lead in the second set against host Springfield.
But they narrowly missed perfection.
That was about the only thing that didn’t go in favor of Roosevelt, which defeated Springfield 25-9, 25-1 and 25-11 in a Portage Trail Conference Metro Division matchup.
Pensyl served Roosevelt to 31 consecutive points, a streak that spanned the final 10 points of the first set and the opening 21 points of the second set.
“The second set was exciting because our whole team was so awake,” said the 5-foot-7 Pensyl. “It was obviously not ace after ace. It was everyone playing well together.”
Roosevelt (15-4, 11-1) utilized its height advantage and athletic ability against Springfield (0-17, 0-12).
“We have a lot of youngsters and our captains are playing really well,” Roosevelt coach Kasey Adelman said. “We did an amazing job serving and passing that kept everyone going. Everyone stayed focused, which you need to do in these types of games. It is exciting to watch this team grow.”
The Rough Riders consistently put together bump, set and spike combinations. Pensyl, 5-foot-11 junior Alli Cudworth and 6-foot-3 sophomore Cortnee Bowser finished several points with powerful spikes.
“Our team has improved a lot,” said Cudworth, who finished with 13 kills. “We are going strong and getting better at the end of the season. We have really worked well as a team.”
Pensyl totalled 32 service points, three aces, nine digs and five kills.
“We kept playing hard even though we got up by a lot of points,” Pensyl said.
Cudworth and Bowser were imposing at the net in the second set, but Bowser had an errant spike go out of bounds to make the score 21-1.
“I’m sorry,” Bowser said, smiling toward her teammates on the court and on the bench.
Roosevelt won the next point and Bowser responded with the final two kills of the set. Sophomores Hollie Marsh and Megan Lavins were also key players in the second set, along with freshman Cathryn Miller.
Roosevelt sophomore Mylane Bella-Smuts had 18 assists. Cudworth and Bowser had two blocks each.
Seniors Mariah Bowe, Daniella Rice and Gina Iacco also contributed for Roosevelt along with juniors Eva Toppen and Erin Gray, sophomore Sadie Janus and freshman Katelyn Gonos.
Roosevelt graduated six seniors from last year’s team that went 22-2. Only two starters returned, Adelman said. Even with a majority of new varsity players, Roosevelt will host Crestwood on Tuesday with a chance to clinch the PTC Metro title. Adelman said injured sophomore Hayley Chlad should return soon.
“This season is going very well, better than I thought it would,” Bowser said. “Each game we get better and we push through no matter what.”
The Spartans were led at the net by senior Carrie Krise and junior Jaime Alcorn.
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