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Coldwater's Mia Knapke (4) sets the ball as teammate Mara Rietman goes up for a spike during Monday's match.
COLDWATER - Facing a defiant Defiance team, Coldwater swept aside the Bulldogs at the Palace Monday night, 25-18, 25-23, 25-11.
Defiance opened the match on a 4-1 run, and led 7-5 early. Coldwater's Brylee Knapke got the serve and ran with it. A nine point Coldwater run gave the home team the lead 14-7, a lead that held throughout the set.
Defiance went on a couple of short runs, but the hole was too big to dig out of, and a Bulldog hit that went long gave Coldwater the 1-0 lead.
The second set was much more competitive. Defiance fell behind 3-0, but eventually took a 6-3 lead thanks to a pair of aces from Kamryn Frederick.
"We were tweaking the lineup and trying to figure out what's going to work," Coldwater coach Nikki Etzler said. "I saw us work through some things."
Coldwater would get it close, but could not take the lead until it was 11-10. Defiance tied it back up at 13-all, as the back and forth play continued. Two kills by the Cavaliers' Mara Riethman gave the home team a 18-14 lead.
"I was really excited about Mara's play today," coach Etzler said.
Coldwater's Spencer Etzler goes up for a spike against Defiance.
With the lead, Coldwater eventually made it 23-19 after the Bulldogs hit the net. Defiance had a big swing late to cut the lead to 23-22, but a crucial kill by Campbell Etzler created some space. Defiance had another shot hit the net, and Coldwater took a 2-0 with a chance to sweep.
"(Campbell Etzler's) service pressure puts teams at a disadvantage, and I think she is consistent for our team," coach Etzler said.
Coldwater's Harlow Heyne (8) makes the block on the hit by Defiance's Nora Vandemark during Monday's non-conference volleyball match at the Palace.
The final set was a simple one for the Cavaliers. An early 6-2 run set the tone for the set, and the crowd was starting to sense a sweep. Harlow Heyne played a pivotal part in the final set, as Heyne was a part of two blocks and added a kill to make it 14-5. Defiance did not go away, however, and the visitors make it 16-11 after a pair of aces from Isabella Rowlison.
Coldwater rode the wave, and got its serve back. With Heyne serving, the Cavaliers took the final nine points and won the set to complete the sweep and send the Palace home happy.
"I thought Harlow did a great job, and Mia (Knapke) was able to feed them the ball in the middle," coach Etzler said.
Coldwater improves to 8-3 on the year after the cross-conference win, winners of six of its last seven matches. The Cavaliers have two big MAC matches this week, hosting Versailles tonight before traveling to Fort Site Fieldhouse to face Fort Recovery on Thursday.
