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Talawanda tops Ross, controls FAVC West

Braves topple Rams  in battle of undefeated teams in division.

Photos: Talawanda. vs. Ross

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Updated 12:56 PM Wednesday, September 21, 2011

By Bob Ratterman

Contributing Writer

ROSS TWP. — As showdowns go, the Talawanda-Ross high school volleyball match Tuesday may not have looked like one, but it felt like it.

Talawanda took the match in three games, 25-17, 25-13 and 25-21, but the Rams kept it interesting for a loud, supportive crowd, including a group of boys in body paint and costumes.

“Both teams were undefeated, and this match was important for the league. The girls came out and tried to do more than usual,” Talawanda coach Tammi Waite said. “They tried to be perfect. Volleyball is not a perfect game.”

The two teams came into the match with 6-0 records in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference West Division and the Braves (11-1 overall) stay undefeated for the first time through the division schedule, winning all seven matches 3-0. But Ross coach Kim Steigerwald said she was proud of her Rams (9-3, 6-1 FAVC West).

“These girls do not give up,” she said. “They go deep, 14-15 deep. We just made timely mistakes. We hoped to move the ball around, but we made errors. In that second game, we went flat. The first game was tight, the second we were flat. In the third game, we got back into it with the crowd. I thank them for their support. It helped a lot.”

Talawanda mostly dominated the first two games, but the third one was hard fought and the Ross crowd was really into the action. The score was tied 10 times, but Ross struggled to take a lead. With the score tied at 20-20, Talawanda took control to win 25-21.

“We won in three games, and I’ll take that any day,” Waite said. “We did the job we came out to do, but it could be better without all the errors. It’s not pretty, but it’s something to build on.”

Rachel Vidourek led the Braves with 14 kills and nine digs. Also playing well for THS were Laura DeWitt (eight kills), Taylor Ruder (eight kills, one ace) and Dana Lohrey (16 assists).

The teams will have a rematch Oct. 3 at Talawanda in the final match of the regular season. Both teams will continue FAVC West play Thursday at home. Talawanda will host Northwest, and Ross will host Winton Woods.

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