The Dexter volleyball team improved to 25-5 on Thursday with a sweep of host Lincoln in an SEC White Division match. It was a match that started out easy but became quite the challenge in the third set.
In the opening set, the Dreads dominated from the first serve.
Dexter took a 10-3 lead following a few quality serves from Olivia Mellifont. Back-to-back spikes from Jordan Kless and Hanna Quinn spiked the lead to 13-6. A tip by Eleanor King pushed the Dreads to a 16-8 advantage. A spike by Sydney Bussineau gave the visitors a 19-11 lead.
Mellifont then served Dexter to a 21-12 lead.
Dexter took the set 21-12.
In the second set, Dexter again dominated from start to finish. A tip by Ashley Haralson started things out in the right direction with a 6-4 lead. Lincoln had trouble with the serves from Kaitlin DeLacy – on two consecutive serves they couldn’t get the ball back over the net. Dexter led 15-8. A tip by King made it 20-13 and the Dreads coasted from there for a 25-13 win.
The third set had the same result but required a much stronger effort from the Dreadnaughts.
The Rails led 6-3 and then 10-5. Some strong play from Quinn LaFontaine helped lead the Dreads back into the game, cutting the lead to 10-8. But the Rails continued to play well. At 14-8, Dexter Coach Liz Palmer called a time out to try and rally the troops.
But Lincoln kept on pushing on and took the lead to 19-10.
DEXTER VOLLEYBALL – LOOKING AHEAD
An ace by King cut it to 19-12. Spikes by Kless and Bussineau brought Dexter to within 20-16. With the biggest spike of the whole night, King delivered a message and another point as Dexter pulled to within 22-18. A tip by Quinn cut the deficit to 23-20.
The Dreads came all the way back at 23-23 after a tip by Cami Fischer. A spike by Quinn gave Dexter a 24-23 lead. After Lincoln tied it at 24-24, a great save by Avery Goodrich led to another point and a 25-24 lead. An ace by Quinn gave Dexter a 26-24 win and a sweep of Lincoln.
The Dreads (25-5) face Pinckney next week and then play at the Western Invitational next Saturday. The Dreadnaughts also have Jackson and Chelsea coming up in SEC play as well as a crossover match with Pioneer for Senior Night at Dexter.
