Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. West Branch senior Olivia Showalter records a kill during the Warriors’ 3-0 sweep of Alliance on Tuesday.
YOUNGSTOWN — Having already earned two sweeps over Alliance earlier in the season, West Branch knew that its third match against the Aviators wasn’t going to be easy.
Still, the Warriors (15-9) continued their dominance over Alliance this season, blanking the Aviators 3-0 to begin Division II postseason play on Tuesday night at Ursuline High School, winning the three sets 25-15, 25-20 and 25-14.
“They’re always competitive. Something about Alliance — they’re very well coached, they never give up and they’re very scrappy,” West Branch coach Penny DeShields said. “So we have to not make mistakes, and we made some in areas of the game and let them get back in. Making them play — that was what we talked about today. Make them play, don’t let them play, because when you let them play, you’re just giving them easy balls, and you’re not playing to win. We always want to play to win.”
The first set was back and forth, although things became a bit tense for the Warriors after falling behind three points midway through the second set.
Staying calm was key.
Mikalyn Fitts is one of three seniors, and played a role in rallying her teammates.
“We played them pretty early in the season and they’ve definitely grown a lot over the season, that’s the biggest thing,” Fitts said. “It definitely helps having such an experienced group with me in Olivia Showalter because we both are four year starters. So we definitely had a big role in coming in and bringing up the team in hard times.”
Tied at 20-all, the Warriors rang off the last five points of the set, starting with a score by Fitts and then junior libero Ragan Greeneisen followed suit with a set-winning kill to take the 2-0 lead.
Nonetheless, Alliance (3-20) wasn’t one to allow their season to end so quickly, putting together an effort that required West Branch to remain locked in, even up two sets to none.
“When we first got here, we knew having a long bus ride (and) playing a team that we’re 15 minutes away from, we knew we had to come in focused already, especially not having a JV game ahead of us. We knew we had to come in ready to play,” Showalter said. “First and second set, we were building off each set each time.
“We came together. We knew we were the better team. We knew we had it in us, it was just telling everyone I have your back, you have mine (and) sticking together and pushing through it.”
Along with senior Brynn Smith, DeShields appreciated how much her upperclassmen took charge when it needed it the most.
“I commended Livvie and Mik both. When it came down to crunch time and we needed them to hit the ball, they hit the ball. They weren’t afraid and that aggressiveness is something I like to see. We can’t be afraid because when you’re afraid to lose, you make a mistake,” DeShields said.
The Warriors will take on the winner of Ursuline and Canfield on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
