NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Midway through the second set, the Otto-Eldred volleyball team was down 19-11 to host Redbank Valley after already dropping the first game.
Things looked bleak for the 10th-seeded Terrors.
Then, a switch flipped.
“It was a long car ride down here,” said junior Carrie Drummond, smiling. “I think a lot of us were asleep still.”
(Pictured above, Otto-Eldred junior Carrie Drummond was named the Hager Paving Incorporated Player of the Game)
Awakened from that early slumber, Otto-Eldred nearly rallied to take the second set, falling by just two. Down 2-0, the Terrors were unflappable, finishing off a reverse sweep by taking the next three and moving on to the next round of the District 9 Class A playoffs with an improbable 14-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12, 15-12 victory on Tuesday night.
“We definitely just pulled it together,” Drummond said. “We acted like a team. We realized that we’re a team and we’re all this together. No one was talking and then we started talking and communicating more in the third, fourth and fifth sets.”
Drummond dominated throughout the match, finishing with 23 kills.
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
Otto-Eldred made a few subtile adjustments against the seventh-seeded Bulldogs. The Terror blockers were quicker to the net and the attackers, led by Drummond, were getting better sets and opportunities.
And took full advantage.
It added up to a surge in momentum that Redbank Valley couldn’t stop.
“It comes down to being outplayed,” said Redbank coach Ashley Anderson. “When it comes down to it, I would rather lose by being outplayed and (Otto-Eldred) definitely played well, turning things around and just ran with it.”
Redbank Valley broke open a 13-13 tie in the first set with an 8-0 run, keyed by the net play of Mylee Harmon and Taylor Ripple.
Both were big all night for the Bulldogs, each finishing with 17 kills.
In the second set, Harmon had three consecutive service aces as Otto-Eldred looked completely out of sorts in falling behind 19-11.
But the Terrors stormed back, trimming that huge deficit down to 24-23 before Izzy Bond ended it with a kill to give Redbank Valley a 2-0 lead.
That was the last Bulldog lead in the match until the fifth set.
It was Otto-Eldred’s turn to dominate with a trio of attackers, led by Drummond.
Kate Rhinehart also had a big night with 11 kills, including a powerful one at the end of the fifth set that gave the Terrors the match after Redbank Valley briefly led 5-4.
Middle hitter Rayel Hakes also pitched in six kills.
“This whole season we’re lived on our hard hitters, and we just couldn’t get them the ball for some reason early,” said Otto-Eldred coach Dan Drummond, who is Carrie’s father. “I just kept on preaching we have to get good passes, good sets and good kills. That’s what got us here and we had to find a way to get it done.”
Otto-Eldred did.
The win sends the Terrors into the next round where they will travel to Elk County Catholic to take on the second-seeded Crusaders at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Fatigue may have played a role for Redbank.
All season, the Bulldogs have relied on their six starters to play all six rotations. Otto-Eldred didn’t substitute often, but enough to give some of its stars a breather.
There was no breather for Redbank.
“They were tired,” Anderson said.
Harmon also had 19 digs and Ripple added four aces and eight digs.
Freshman Elaina Carrico had 33 assists.
“Elaina set really well for us tonight,” Anderson said. “That was her first playoff game, ever. She bottled up those nerves and got through it well.”
For Otto-Eldred, the Terrors now believe they are playing with house money.
Nothing to lose.
Otto-Eldred even may have found a good luck charm.
A skeleton with a dark wig, sun glasses and wearing an Otto-Eldred volleyball t-shirt named “Darryl” made the trip as a quasi mascot. He may accompany the team to ECC, too, to give the Crusaders a, um, terror.
One thing is for sure — the Terrors are not afraid.
“This definitely feels good,” Carrie Drummond said. “I think the first few sets we were playing scared. Once we got going, we weren’t scared anymore.”
Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.
