Bald Eagle outlasts tough battle from Wildcats in volleyball action

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: August 26, 2023

Central Mountain 16 21 25 21

Bald Eagle 25 25 23 25

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Two familiar foes open the 2023 volleyball season going head-to-head Saturday.

Bald Eagle Area and Central Mountain renewed acquaintances at the Eagles’ gym. Both team had numerous runs in the contest with

In the end, the Bald Eagles took home the victory winning 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21).

It was definitely a start that Bald Eagle Area coach Zach Rote was glad to open the season with.

“I was really impressed with how we came out. We were focused, we had really great energy. We played well as a team said Bald Eagle Area coach Rote. “I was really happy about that.”

Central Mountain coach Chip McCann liked how his team battled but thought knows they can and will be better.

“To be honest I didn’t think we showed up to our ability. We looked a little bit lost out there at times,” said McCann. “We are way better than we showed today. We will get back to the drawing board on Monday and try to put a better product out there. Hats off to Bald Eagle. They are a good program. They’re well respected and they have a great tradition here but they’re not much better than we are so

Offensively, both teams came out strong in the first game, it was a back-and-forth contest early.

Early on, the Lady Wildcats took the first lead thanks to two service points by Payton Kinley, taking the 3-1 advantage.

But the Eagles came roaring back going on a run of their own.

Eagles Libero Nora Eppley rolled off three consecutive service points. The run was highlighted by a block up front by Ava Stere and a smash by Taylor Habovick, taking the lead back again leading 5-3.

Central Mountain rallied right back, refusing to let the Eagles to keep the lead, going on a 4-0 run. Notching three consecutive service points was Reese Walizer.

Despite trailing 7-5, Bald Eagle Area server Stere. Stere was almost unbeatable from the line, ripping off eight consecutive service points.

Posting a 14-7 advantage, the Eagles would not relinquished the lead again the rest of the way, en route to posting a 25-16.

Central Mountain tightened things up in the second game, it would again be a strong back-and-forth contest.

Leading 6-5 early in the third, the Eagles started to pull away once again.

This time, Taylor Hall started to sizzle as she reeled off five uncontested points, giving her team an 9-5 lead.

Late in the second contest Central Mountain made some noise late in the contest thanks to some powerful service points from Kylie Rauch, cutting the contest to a 13-11 match.

The game would stay close throughout but in the end, the Eagles kept their lead and took game number two 25-21.

Game three would belong solidly to Central Mountain.

Again like the first two, the game would be another close contest through out the contest. The Wildcats would extend its lead late before an Eagles last ditch effort, closed in on Central Mountain, cutting the lead to 24-23.

But the Wildcats got the final point they needed to capture the contest 25-23.

Bald Eagle took care of the fourth game, getting back to its winning ways, holding onto a very close 25-21 victory.

In Junior Varsity action, the Wildcats forced a third and deciding game, winning 2-1.

Central Mountain is back in action Thursday at Loyalsock.

Bald Eagle is back at home Monday against Bellwood Antis.