Lady Falcons Notch First Volleyball Win

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Elverado High School's Girls Volleyball team built some badly needed confidence while gaining a badly needed victory Wednesday night.

The Lady Falcons (1-3) edged Black Diamond Conference rival Zeigler-Royalton in an exciting match at Piper-Valerius Gymnasium.

Scores were 22-25, 25-3 and 25-22. The Lady Falcons are also 1-3 in the BDC and host Crab Orchard Thursday.

"We stayed focused and played to win in that third game," Lady Falcons coach Donette Wheatley said. "We fought from behind the whole game. This was a confidence builder."

After Z-R nipped Elverado in a tight opening game, the home squad coasted to an easy 22-point win in game two.

The third game, however, was a see-saw affair. With score knotted 21-21, Elverado's back row came up with what turned out to be the play of the match.

A high-arching dig of a Z-R kill attempt deflected off the ceiling rafters, but was returned by Elverado for a point.

The Lady Falcons then scored the final three points-two on mistakes by Z-R, to win the match.

"We made a great hustling play off the rafters and that was the difference in the game," said Wheatley. "We took a big lead in the first game at 12-0, then tensed up a little. We played not to lose."

Senior Kelsey Tuthill was perfect at the serving line, going 35-for-35.

She scored 30 points-18 straight coming during a flurry in game two. Tuthll also had six digs and six assists.

At the net, Tiffany Yearian paced EHS with nine kills.

Elverado 22-25-25, Zeigler-Royalton 25-3-22

Serving: Kelsey Tuthill 35-35, Allie Griest 9-9, Tiffany Yearian 8-9, Arika Mace 7-8, Hillary Dinkins 5-6, Adrienne Hardwig 3-3.

Points: Tuthill 30, Griest 5, Yearian 6, Mace 5, Dinkins 3.

Aces: Tuthill 2, Mace 1.

Assists: Tuthill 6.

Hitting: Tuthill 11-11, Griest 11-13, Yearian 36-41, Mace 11-12, Dinkins 8-9, Hardwig 16-17.

Kills: Tuthill 2, Yearian 9, Dinkins 1, Hardwig 1.

Digs: Tuthill 6, Griest 7, Yearian 6, Mace 1, Dinkins 3, Hardwig 5.

Junior Varsity score; Z-R 25-25, Elverado 17-22

Rebecca Korando: 6 points; Erika Will 15-18 hitting; Kaylee Gresham 7-7 serving; Erika Will 3 kills.

No freshman match