Tipp’s Emily Aslage rises to block a Troy shot attempt during the Red Devils’ 18-3 run in the first set. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Troy showed its youth, and Tipp once again showed its annual potential for MVL domination in an early-season sweep of the rival Trojans.
Troy, OH – The term is, ‘they shot themselves in the foot’……..
And it didn’t help the youthful Troy Trojans much Thursday night as costly service and hitting errors, and an overall slow start, contributed greatly to a 3-0 Tipp sweep (25-9, 25-12, and 25-18) of the 0-3 Trojans.
Afterwards, first-year coach Alexis Clark shared some positive perspective on a cold night against another hot, and anticipated Tipp team for 2024.
Minster Bank proudly sponsors the MVL on Press Pros Magazine.com.
“A lot of our girls don’t have any varsity experience, or very little varsity experience,” said Clark. “But I thought they did a good job of keeping up their morale. I told them, ‘I want you to take care of your side, stay positive, and don’t let your mistakes get to you. I think they did a really good job in that respect. It’s the third game of the season and I’m proud of them for the steps they’ve taken.”
At times it looked like one step forward, and two steps back. Playing Tipp (2-0) even for the first six points of the opening set, the mistakes did get to them…serving errors, errant hitting, and the inability to get into any kind of rhythm, or ‘system’. Tipp edged ahead at 7-6, and then the roof caved in. Tipp proceeded to go on an 18-3 run to close it out, 25-9.
Again in set two Troy played the Red Devils even to the 14-12 mark, before Tipp finally gained a two-point separation…then strung together another 11-2 run to blow things open, 25-14.
Tipp’s Savannah Clawson scores during Thursday night’s conference win over Troy.
To Clark’s words, her team fought through the errors and inexperience in the third set to fight back from a 19-12 deficit. They kept their composure, finally found a little bit of that rhythm, and closed the gap to 24-18 before losing the set, and the match, 25-18.
“I thought the last set was encouraging,” said Clark. “We closed it to seven points, and maybe it didn’t feel that way, because they have a lot of hitters. I told the girls, ‘But we were right there. We never gave up, and that’s what we need to see.’ We have a few weeks, and some practice before we see them again (September 17), and maybe it will be a different story.”
For their part, Tipp was hardly in Olympic form, missing their top player, Abby Mader, with a sprained ankle. And projected to be out two to four weeks, coach Howard Garcia hopes she heals fast. That said, Garcia and the rest of the lineup made some adjustments and pushed the right buttons to help keep Troy out of rhythm, and system.
“It starts with serve/receive, and you picking a zone that you think you can exploit,” Garcia explained, afterwards. “We picked a spot where they couldn’t respond, couldn’t adjust in time, and we kept focusing on that zone to force them to make adjustments. They didn’t change, or respond, and we took advantage of that.”
The Koverman Staley Dickerson agencies sponsor Miami County sports on Press Pros Magazine.com.
In Mader’s absence junior Morgan Sessions stepped in.
“I thought Morgan did a great job,” said Garcia. “Not having Abby hurts because she’s such a good attacker on the front row, but Morgan blocked, attacked and did a great job.”
It’s not the rivalry it was three years ago, when Troy and Tipp continually battled for conference supremacy, but this is another Tipp group from which much is expected between now and the tournament draw. And for as much as Troy had its issues with serving and playing in system Thursday, Tipp was nearly as ragged at times.
Troy’s Noel Baker scrambles to save a point in Tuesday’s MVL rivalry match with Tipp.
“There’s always a lot of emotion when Troy and Tipp play, and when that happens you start doing things that aren’t natural,” added Garcia. “Our serves were not aggressive, and because of that we hit too many of them into the net. As far as Troy, I think we overwhelmed by keeping up the attack, and they eventually had some breakdowns.”
Tipp improves to 2-0 for the year, having beaten Greenville in straight sets on Tuesday, so the Red Devils have yet to lose a set. And again, the conference schedule for 2024 is favorable so they have to be considered not only the favorite, but a favorite for a high seed come tournament draw.
“The advantage that this group has is that they all get along,” said Garcia, acknowledging their potential.
“They support each other, they’re not as vocal as past teams, but their work ethic and their effort in practice and games…they go after it. And they’re very receptive about being taught. We’re going to get better as the season goes on.”
Logan Services sponsors the best area sports stories on Press Pros Magazine.com.