DEFIANCE – The Tinora Lady Rams traveled across the Maumee River on Monday night, this time to take on the Defiance Bulldogs. This was the second edition of a family reunion on the court between mother and daughter as Tinora’s Bretta Hagerty brought her Lady Rams over to face her daughter Brie (Hagerty) Brenner’s, Defiance Bulldogs.

Last season was a renewal of the rivalry between these two schools after 22 years of not playing on the volleyball court. The ’22 Lady Rams came away last season with a hard-fought five-set win from Tinora High School in the first match between the Hagerty’s.

Coming into Monday, in the overall series that resumed last season, Tinora led the Bulldogs, 23-4.

The Lady Rams came in running hot, winning five straight, and a record of 12-5. Defiance, winners of four straight entered at 9-8.

In the first set that saw the Lady Rams one point away from taking the initial set, Defiance rallied down the stretch to grab a thrilling first set 27-25 to grab a 1-0 set advantage.

Set two again went to the Bulldogs, 25-19. Tinora saw Defiance grab a commanding 2-0 set lead at home.

The Lady Rams would not go quietly, in set three, coach Hagerty rallied her Lady Rams to grab the set, 25-13, cutting the Bulldogs lead to 2-1.

Set four saw a dominating performance by the Tinora Lady Rams, Tinora took set two, 25-15, evening the match 2-2.

Set five, the first to 15, the sudden death edition of volleyball. After seeing the thriller in 2022 come down to five sets, the 2023 edition followed in the same footsteps. The Lady Rams took a thrilling set five, 15-11, and grabbed the match 3-2 after trailing 2-0.

What a win by the girls from Tinora.

Tinora Stats:
Addison Gerken 18 digs, 19-21 serving, 24 assists; Zoe Roesti 3 kills, 14 digs, 11-12 serving, 25 assists; Scylea Zolman 6 kills, 4 digs, 2 blocks; Kaylee Dickinson 26 digs, 18-22 serving, 35-41 serve receive; Kenzi Nagel 13 kills; Kallie Snyder 11 kills, 7 digs, 10-11 serve receive; Paige Sebring 5 digs, 13-15 serving, 17-19 serve receive; Paige Gamby 11 kills, 20 digs, 21-21 serving; Tatum Creps 19 kills, 6 digs, 16-17 serving, 2 aces; Emma Bailey 3 digs.

Defiance Stats:
Josslyn Jerger 3 aces, 6 digs, 15 assists; Megan Williams 2 aces, 20-23 serve receive, 15 digs; Piper Hampton 18-23 serve receive, 13 digs; Ella Westrick 32-37 serve receive, 21 digs, 6 assists; Brooke Gathman 2 blocks; Ellie Stack 2 blocks; Isabella Rowlison 2 blocks, 7 kills, 25-30 hitting; Piper Lacey 2 blocks, 3 digs, 3 kills, 13-14 hitting; Avery McCarrier 4 digs; Karleigh Hoffman 18 kills, 56-63 hitting, 7 digs; Jasmyn Saldana 13 digs, 11 assists; Kendall Liffick 3 digs, 7 kills, 28-32 hitting.

With the win, Tinora improves to 13-5 and will travel to Paulding Tuesday to take on the Panthers.

Defiance drops to 9-9 and will travel to take on Lima Bath Tuesday evening.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Kenzi Nagle, great job, Kenzi.