Mulberry Grove and Vandalia kicked off the 2025 volleyball season in style Tuesday, as the Lady Aces withstood a furious Lady Vandals comeback in the decisive third set to close out a thrilling 18-25, 25-15, 25-23 win over their neighbors to the east. Mulberry Grove seemed poised to cruise to a victory in the final set after an Addy Buatte kill gave the Lady Aces a 19-12 lead. But the Lady Vandals reeled off eight unanswered points – highlighted Kadi Daugherty and Rebekah Miller kills and eight straight service points by Ollie Whitehead – to take a 20-19 lead. But the Lady Aces righted the ship down the stretch, closing out the victory on a Daisy Allen kill. Each team traded convincing victories in the first two sets of the night before the nip-and-tuck finale.
The Lady Vandals recovered from an early 6-2 deficit in the opening set to cruise to a decisive seven-point victory. But the Lady Aces dominated the second set, racing out to a 10-0 lead on their way to a double-digit win to set the stage for the third-set nail-biter. Vandalia (0-1) will return to action against another area rival Thursday when it hosts St. Elmo-Brownstown. Mulberry Grove (1-0) will be back in action Friday when it hosts Ramsey.
Mulberry Grove Stats
Addy Buatte — 7 kills, 1 ace
Lola Johnson — 8 assists
Allyse Blankenship — 4 kills, 2 assists
Myah Huhn — 2 kills, 3 aces, 8 assists
Daisy Allen — 3 kills
Addie Lawrence — 1 kill
Vandalia Stats
Ollie Whitehead – 1 dig, 2 aces, 2 kills
Heather Sanchez – 1 kill
Corynn Taylor – 1 kill
Liah Hoyle – 4 assist, 2 aces
Carly Eyman – 1 ace, 1 block, 6 kills
Bekah Miller – 2 kills
Makenna Dothager – 2 aces
Ava Peyton – 1 kill
Sierra Stewart – 1 dig
Maddie Lofland – 2 aces
Hayden Lay – 4 assists
Kady Daugherty – 1 kill
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