Colton Wildcats beat Pirates in five-set thriller

COLTON - The Colton Wildcat volleyball team set up a homecoming clash against the Pomeroy Pirates.

The game was played in Colton on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

The Wildcats would win the game in five sets, giving them their third win of the season, and have won two-of-three as of late.

With the loss, the Pirates sit on five losses, and lose their first game in their last three. Their two previous victories were over Dayton and Rosalia.

These two teams met twice last season, with the Pirates taking both of them.

Until Tuesday, Sept. 26, the last time the Wildcats were victorious over the Pirates was the 2020-21 season.

In the first set of the game Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Wildcats jumped out to an early 6-4 lead, they would then extend the lead to 13-7 before Pomeroy took a timeout.

After the timeout, the Wildcats would use it to their advantage, extending their lead to 20-14. Colton would then go on to win the set 25-17. They took serious momentum into the second set.

In the second set of the match, the momentum the Wildcats took from their fans and the electric atmosphere of winning the first set was short-lived. Pomeroy started the set up 6-2, then would extend to lead 11-6 early. After leading 15-11, the Wildcats slowly came crawling back. They would trail 18-15 in the set, then push it to a two-point deficit.

After a timeout from the Pirates, Colton would tie the game at 23, forcing another timeout from Pomeroy.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they could not take advantage of the opportunity given to them in the set, and lost it 25-23. Tying the game at one set each.

After evening the set score at one, the Wildcats used the set break to regroup, and dominated the third set against Pomeroy.

They would fly out to a lead, and never look back, winning the third set 25-16, putting them one set away from the victory.

With the Pirates on the ropes in the game, they used the fourth set to tie the set score at two.

The Pirates won 25-22. Both Pirate set victories were two point victories, and three point victories. The Wildcats would score 97 points in the first four sets, with the Pirates scoring 83 points.

The fifth and final set in the game was a victory for the Wildcats. They would win the fifth set 15-11, taking their third set victory, and match victory against Pomeroy.

In the game, Clair Moehrle, Kaydee Heitstuman and Kyndra Stout each had three aces in the game.

Holly and Kaydee Heitstuman would each have four kills, but Stout would lead the way with nine. Stout would also have five blocks for the Wildcats.

Kaydee had 10 assists in the game, and Moehrle had 11 for Colton.