Lady Hornets fall to Liberty in D4 championship game

By: Ed Weaver  /  November 1, 2019  /  Photo: Ed Weaver

In a rematch of last year's District IV Class AA final, North Penn-Liberty beat rival Wellsboro 3-1 at Williamson High School on Thursday, October 31.

Both teams traded points early in the first set before Charisma Grega kills pushed the lead to 13-10 in favor of the Lady Mounties. Liberty then rattled off 6 straight points to push the 19-10. Liberty kept rolling as they took the set 25-16.

Wellsboro did, however, do what no other NTL team was able to do all season long... win a set against Liberty.

The Lady Hornets started out with a quick 3-1 lead in the second, only to have the Lady Mounties tie and take a 5-4 lead. Both teams remained evenly matched until midway through as the Lady Mounties held a slight 18-15 lead.

That's when senior Caitlyn Callahan took over. Callahan scored 5 straight points (4 kills and 1 block) to help Wellsboro retake the lead at 20-18 before the closed out the set with a 25-20 win.

Liberty came out and completely dominated the third set. The Lady Mounties built an 8-2 lead early on, Wellsboro eventually cut the lead to 9-5, but that's as close as they would get. Liberty went on to win the set 25-8 putting them up 2 sets to 1.

Liberty again jumped back out to an early lead in the fourth set but eventually the Lady Hornets battled back to tie it at 8-all on a Bailey Monks kill. The teams traded points again as Wellsboro again tied the set up at 10-10, then later at 14-14 on a Callahan kill, and again at 16-16 on a Breighanna Kemp kill.

The Lady Mounties then went on a 9-4 run down the stretch to secure the set win, 25-20, and the match.

For Wellsboro, Callahan had 28 kills and 5 points, senior Ryann Adams had 23 digs, senior Megan Starkweather had 20 assists, 14 digs, and 9 points, and Kemp had 17 assists and 6 points.

Minyo finished with 17 Points, 15 kills, and 13 digs, Ali Koval had 8 points and 27 digs, Grega had 13 kills, 2 blocks, and 13 digs, and Grace Tice had 13 kills and 9 blocks.

The loss ends the Lady Hornets' season at 18-4 overall (12-2 NTL Large School Division) while Liberty advances to the PIAA tournament next Tuesday at Athens Area High School against the District II champ.