The Midway junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams raided the Dark Horses Monday night in home games, with the junior varsity team winning both of their sets and the varsity team winning three out of four sets.

According to Raiders head coach Heather Johnson, the first set against the Dark Horses left the JV team on top 25-11.

During the second set, the Dark Horses took an early lead, however, the Raiders came back later in the set to win 25-23.

The second set began with Midway’s Elizabeth McCullen serving first, putting the Raiders ahead three points before Clinton’s Emily Wrench took the lead 3-4 during her time serving.

The next serve rotation brought Tess Williams up for the Raiders, however, the official blew his whistle for a serve delay turning the ball back over to Clinton.

Dark Horse Taylor Brazell was up on the serve rotation, sending her first serve to Farrah Jackson, who dove for the ball, leaving Taylor Lee and Jennifer Blackman to get the ball over, however, they could not.

During Brazell’s second serve, Williams attempted to return the ball, but it was sent into the net, upping the score 4-8, Clinton.

Her third serve was hit to Blackman who attempted to get it over, however it hit the net, putting the Dark Horse junior varsity team up five points.

Brazell was able to score one more point during her time serving, and with the score 4-10 the Raider’s Jackson hit the serve rotation, but her serve was sent into the net.

Clinton’s Brittany Herring was able to add two more points to the Dark Horse score, making it 5-12 when Kaitlyn Jackson was up for the Raiders, but her serve was short.

Clinton’s Tiandra Johnson’s serve was also short.

It was Midway’s Christy Carr who slightly closed the gap between the Dark Horses and the Raiders, and with the score 10-13, Clinton’s Kathy Gutierrez was up on serve rotation, however her serve was short.

Midway’s Blackman scored two points while serving; Clinton’s Spencer Norris had a short serve; Midway’s (Farrah) Jackson brought the Raiders up 14-15; Clinton’s Wrench added a point; Midway’s Michaela Slatniske scored four points, putting the Raiders up 19-16; Clinton’s Brazell gained no points; Midway’s Erin Strickland added a point, making it 21-17; Clinton’s Viviana Sarp closed the gap 24-23; and Midway eventually took it after Sarp’s short serve.

“Tori Reynolds and Elizabeth Smith did a nice job moving the ball around to our hitters,” Johnson reported, adding that Michaela Slatniske had 16 kills, Erin Strickland had 15 kills and Christy Carr had 10 kills.

As for the varsity games, Johnson revealed that after four sets, Midway took the game with the scores as follows: 25-15, Midway; 21-25, Clinton; 25-11, Midway; and 25-16, Midway.

“Amber Peterson had 25 kills, Morgan Warren had 30 kills, Emily Barber had 23 kills and 3 service aces, Lauren Smith had 23 kills, 4 service aces and 5 blocks, Hailey Tyndall was very strong at the net with 28 kills and 3 blocks, Leanna Fann had 20 kills and 3 aces, Jackie Benton had 16 kills, Caroline Warren had 13 kills, Kacey Wrench moved the ball around really well tonight with 31 sets and 10 kills,” Johnson highlighted of her varsity team.

The Raiders are slated to play away at 4:30 p.m. today against Lakewood.

Jessica Wagner can be contacted at (910) 592-8137 ext.122 or reached by e-mail at siphoto@intrstar.net