For the first time since 1999, and in the first of hopefully many more, the Rams and Bulldogs matched up in a Saturday morning non-league match.
What would be at stake, you ask? Well, bragging rights, of course. For the first time on the hardwood, Tinora’s Bretta Hagerty went up against her daughter, Brie Brenner.
The Rams jumped out early and took the first set 25-13 as freshman Tatum Creps dominated up front.
Defiance responded in set two, jumping out to a 11-0 lead, the Rams battled back making it close at 19-18, but the Bulldogs took the set 25-23. The match was even at 1-1
Set three saw the Rams take an exciting 25-19 win. Defiance’s Karleigh Hoffman and Tinora’s Avery Morris battled throughout the set.
Defiance came back to take a wild fourth set, 28-26. The Tinora Rams once trailed 23-19 and actually had two chanced to take the set before Defiance finally took the thriller.
In the decisive fifth set, which has not been Tinora’s friend in 2022, saw the Rams jump out early to a 9-1 lead and took the decisive fifth set, 15-6. What a great match by both teams.
With the win, Tinora improves to 12-8. Tinora will close out the regular season next week at Edgerton on Tuesday, and will have the regular season finale on Thursday vs Hicksville.
Defiance falls to 9-10. The Bulldogs will close their regular season next week with three games. Defiance is home game vs Bowling Green on Monday, Tuesday at Wapakoneta, and Saturday at home vs Napoleon.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Rams senior, Logan McQuillin. Great job, Logan.
Brenner accepted the Bulldogs coaching job over the summer. Brenner also is a graduate of the University of Washington as a player and Defiance College as a coach.
Tinora’s coach Bretta Hagerty was the Defiance head coach from 1996-2005.
This was the Rams first five set win after dropping the previous four.
Listen back to Michael’s exciting call of the match
