Lady Hornets Upset Troy In 5 Sets To Claim District IV Championship

By: Ed Weaver  /  November 1, 2024  /  Photo: Ed Weaver

Wellsboro rallied from trailing 2-1 to defeat top-seeded Troy 3-2 to win the program's 9th District IV Volleyball championship at Athens High School on Thursday, October 31.

Troy swept the regular season series with Wellsboro, defeating the Lady Hornets 3-0 back on September 17th and 3-1 two weeks ago. Troy edged Wellsboro for the NTL championship, however the Lady Hornets got the better of their NTL foes. Wellsboro, along with Williamsport, are the only two teams to take Troy to five sets this season.

"We talked about us not winning in nine years and Troy last winning 10 years ago, but it's amazing," 2nd year head coach Darci Pollock said. "To come back to the program that I went through to bring back a district championship is the best feeling I've ever had."

Coach Pollock was a senior on Wellsboro's last District Championship team in 2015-16, when the Lady Hornets defeated Wyalusing 3-1.

After Troy scored the first set's opening point the Lady Hornets rattled off six consecutive points to take a 6-1 lead. Troy closed the game down to 7-5, then eventually tied the set up at 10-all. The rest of the set went back and forth when Wellsboro broke a 17-all tie to push their lead to 21-17. Troy rallied to tie the set up at 21-all and later at 22-22, before the Lady Hornets scored the next three points, closing out the set on a kill by senior Lexi Urena to go up 1-0.

Wellsboro started off the second set with 4 quick points before Troy rallied and scored the next 4 to tie the set up. Both teams battled back-and-forth, neither leading by more two points until late. Troy trailed 16-14 before outscoring Wellsboro 6-1 to take a 20-17 lead before closing out the set on a 5-2 run to win the set 25-19 to even it up at 1-all.

Troy completely dominated Wellsboro in the third set, winning 25-9. The Trojans took an early 7-0 lead, then pushed it to 14-4 before closing out the set on a 11-5 run to take a 2-1 lead in the game.

"I don't know the last time we came out like that in the first set against a team like that," continued Pollock. "Usually we drop the first set and comeback in the 2nd and 3rd, so it was definitely opposite of what we're used to. A lot of our girls have been fighting colds this week, and they weren't at their best, so to see them fight through and get to the 5th set is incredible."

"I kept telling the team every mistake, every error, we have to let it go," senior Paige Logsdon said. "It's in the past. It doesn't matter anymore. Every set is a new game, and especially after the 3rd set we have to just let it go.

Along with Logsdon, Urena helped rally the team after falling behind 2-1.

"We just kept saying this could be our last game and that we really need to push and work as a team," Urena added. "We just tried to keep a positive attitude, even when things don't look good."

Wellsboro was able to shake off the third set as they rallied to take the 4th, 25-21. Trailing 5-1 early, the Lady Hornets fought their way back within two points at 8-6, then went on a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. Troy regrouped and went on a 4-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 12-10, before the Lady Hornets rattled off five straight points to push the lead back to 15-12. Wellsboro maintained their two point lead until the end of the set when they pushed it to 4 points to even the match up at 2-all and force a 5th set. In the final set Wellsboro got out to a 6-1 lead before Troy went on a 10-3 run to lead 11-9. Wellsboro scored the next two points to knot the set up at 11-all, then took the lead at 13-12 on a Urena kill.

Troy answered back with a point to tie the set up at 13-all, but a Logsdon kill put the Lady Hornets back in front at 14-13. After Troy took a timeout, Urena put the ball in play for the final time of the night and sophomore Blake Eckart made the game's final kill.

"I knew of the bus ride here that we were going to win," Eckart said. "I just wanted it so bad for Paige, Lexi, and all the seniors. I can't even explain it."

"We've been pushing for this all season," Logsdon continued. "We lost to Troy the past two times we played them but we knew this time we'd have to give it our all. It's just incredible."

"I'm still in shock," said Urena. "We worked so hard for this moment. Our passers and our setters gave me great opportunities all night. I'm just really thankful for my team."

"Lexi played the best game of her career tonight," commented Pollock on her senior captain. "She is a monster. She goes out there and gets the job done and she took it personal in the third set and told the team we have to get it together."

Urena led Wellsboro with 12 kills, 7 points and 38 digs. Logsdon finished with 11 kills, 5 solo blocks and 3 assisted blocks, and Eckart added 8 kills, 7 points, and 20 digs. Junior Taylor Main made 16 assists, scored 7 points (2 aces) and had 2 blocks, sophomore Ellie Largey recorded 15 assists, and sophomore Madison Cruttenden made 26 digs and scored 18 points with 2 aces.

Next up for Wellsboro (18-4, 12-2 NTL Large School Division) is a match up with District II champion Holy Redeemer on Tuesday.