One year after finishing second to 2019 SVC champion Westfall, the Adena Warriors switched positions with the Mustangs, completing an outright title season with a 25-21, 25-10, 25-18 sweep of Huntington.
The Warriors were in control of the early stages of sets one and three, grabbing big early leads, only to see the short-handed Huntsmen battle back. Huntington was still playing without the injured Allison Basye and strong-side hitter Megan Steele played on an sore leg and what appeared to be a tight lower back the entire match.
In Set #1, Adena raced-out to leads of 7-1, 13-7, 17-7 and 23-17. Leading 24-17, Huntington fought back to 24-21, before the Warriors closed out at 25-21 following a time-out.
Set #2 saw the Warriors in complete control with leads of 5-0, and later 15-2, with Adena finishing for a 25-10 win and a (2-0) match lead.
Set #3 was much closer early on, with scores tied at 5-5, 6-6 and as late as 8-8, when Adena took-off on a 7-0 run for a 15-8 lead. Trailing 21-14, Huntington closed to within 21-18, but another Warriors time-out was followed by a 4-0 run for the final of 25-18.
Adena had three attackers over double-digits with Makenna Lovely pounding 11 kills, 10 kills each from Jenna Martin and Ellie Harper, while Hannah Burns and Sydney Fogelsong had each added 3.
Huntington was charged by Katie Hirsch's 9 kills and 8 from Megan Steele. Carly Dyer added 6 kills and Emma Hinshaw had 2.
Defensively, Adena was led by Makenna Lovely with 15, Carly Camryn with 14 digs, Hope Garrison 11, and 7 each from Ari DaRif and Brenna McQuiniff. Adena served 9 aces as Carroll had 4 and DaRif with 3. Makenna Lovely had 2. Makaela Lovely dished out 20 assists and Ari DaRif added 12.
Huntington's defense was propelled by Harmony Henneberger with 17, 11 from Carly Dyer, 9 from Megan Steele and 7 from Hirsch. Huntington served 6 aces, led by Henneberger with 3 and Jaden Lamerson with 2.
Adena closes their regular season at (13-1/18-1) and Huntington slips to (8-5/14-7).
Elsewhere, the Westfall Mustangs locked-up sole possession of the runner-up spot, with a thrilling 25-22, 18-25, 25-13, 28-26 decision over "red-hot" Zane Trace, as the regular season winds down. Westfall is scheduled to make up their match at Huntington on Monday, with a no-contest planned for Westfall and Piketon.
Southeastern swept Paint Valley (25-12, 25-23, 28-26) and Unioto did likewise to Piketon (25-12, 25-23, 25-18).
To hear the WKKJ replay of Adena's SVC championship win and post-match interviews with the Warriors, go to our podcast link found below...