Wooster volleyball continues tear through OCC, beats Ashland in three sets

WOOSTER — After griding out a second-set win Tuesday, Wooster’s volleyball team took some time refocus.

In that huddle, between games, the message was received loud and clear as the Generals dominated the third and deciding set en route to a three-set sweep of Ashland, 25-15, 25-19, 25-13, to remain unbeaten in Ohio Cardinal Conference play, and overall.

“In the huddle we talked about how our errors were causing their points and we're not gaining any momentum,” said sophomore Sara Snowbarger, who finished with a match-high 15 kills. “I think, in the third set, we were able to gain our momentum. We just all came together and got it done.”

The dominant serving and efficient attack that has been the MO for Wooster (10-0, 7-0) came through after Ashland (8-5, 3-4) stole some of that momentum in the second game as it led early and continued to push on the four-time defending league champs.

With Snowbarger leading the charge, both at the net and at the service line, the Generals found a way to get the job done and finish the first half of the OCC schedule unblemished.

“I think when you get in those situations, you always have to evaluate why you're there and tonight was our errors and not them causing us anything,” Wooster coach Jen Snowbarger said. “It's hard, day-in and day-out to come with that same focus.”

After a first set, where the Generals were able to finally push the Arrows away by scoring nine of the game’s final 10 points.

The second game, however, was a different story.

Some of that success that Ashland saw in the first set game through as it led 7-4 early by doing something Wooster usually does to its opponents — forcing serve-receive miscues and keeping control of the ball. The Arrows, behind the play of junior Vivian Walter in the middle and on the outside, was able to keep them with the Generals.

That’s when Sara Snowbarger stepped in. The All-Ohio sophomore scored on an assist from Jillian Mann (12 assists) to help the Generals get the ball back and then calmly went to the service line and recorded six of her match-high seven aces in a rally that turned a three-point deficit into an 11-7 lead.

“We practice that a lot,” Sara Snowbarger said of the team’s serving. “I also think we trust each other a lot so, when we we're doing our part, it starts rolling.”

It was more than enough to hold on to the lead the rest of the second, which also included three kills from Snowbarger and a pair of winners each from Megan Lantis (7 kills) and Grace Jones (7 kills, 4 aces). The setting tandem of Mann and Bri Hewitt combined for 26 assists in the victory, Hewitt leading the way with 14.

That balance helped bring back a Wooster team, which was ranked third in the initial Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association State Poll.

“We just find ways to earn points on the other team's weaknesses,” coach Snowbarger said. “Their serve receive kept us in the game and, offensively, we're aggressive.

“So if our serving can put us in those situations and the offense follows, that's a good thing.”

From there, the Generals bounced back from giving up three of the first five points to dominate the third set with Jones registering three aces and two kills.

The defense also was there as Sara Snowbarger had a team-high 16 digs, while junior Emily Boyd added eight of her own.

Wooster, who lost eight seniors from last season’s district-qualifying team, finds itself in a familiar position — running away with the conference and putting itself in position for another lengthy postseason run.

To Sara Snowbarger, one of the returnees that has helped keep that winning tradition going, it’s all about everyone doing their job.

“We've lost a lot a seniors, so I think every realized that they needed to step up and have a big role this year,” she said. “Everyone has accepted that, and I think we're doing really well right now.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Volleyball: undefeated Wooster beats Ashland in OCC play