Dalton volleyball hosts annual Volley for the Cure
Dalton’s Addesa Miller Sept. 28 at Volley for the Cure game.
Dalton’s Amber Jager with Courtney Nolt watching.
Dalton’s Sarah Cross
Dalton’s Sarah Witmer
Dalton’s Vanessa Swartzentruber Sept. 28 at Volley for the Cure against Chippewa.
PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
By ARIEL STAHLER | DGKN sports writer
DALTON Dalton High School’s varsity volleyball team fought hard on the court and raised money to help those fighting a bigger battle. The Lady Dawgs hosted Chippewa Sept. 28 during the annual Volley for the Cure game to raise money for breast cancer research. Dalton won 25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-8.
“It was so awesome to see both communities come together and support a cause that has affected so many of us in some way,” said Dalton’s head coach Allison Hostetler.
Both Dalton and Chippewa crafted baskets that were raffled off. Each team made four baskets, one from each grade. Some of the themes for the baskets included gift cards, Disney, spa and Pioneer Coffeehouse. The teams also sold t-shirts for fans. Altogether, more than $900 was raised to be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. With the exception of last year because of COVID-19, Dalton has participated in Volley for the Cure each year since Hostetler has been coaching at the school.
“The past couple weeks, a couple players on the team have had a death in the family and two of our players got in a car accident,” said Hostetler. “With all of these hardships and then having the Volley for the Cure game during the same time, it really puts everything into perspective and reminds us that it’s more than volleyball. We don’t ever want to take anything for granted and are just so thankful for each and every player on the team.”
Sarah Cross powered Dalton with 17 points, one ace and 21 assists. Courtney Nolt finished with 15 points, two aces, seven kills and 16 digs. Madalyn Coblentz added 11 points.
Mia Weaver ended with 16 kills, 12 assists, two solo blocks and seven assist blocks. Addesa Miller had 22 digs.
“Everyone that came out for our game definitely got to watch an exciting game as we won in five,” said Hostetler. “All year, we have asked the girls to have energy and enthusiasm and they did that better than ever during the fifth set. The girls came out with so much want and played the best we have seen them in that last set.”
Dalton visited Northwestern Sept. 30, but the Huskies were too much and the Lady Dawgs fell 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 29-25. Coblentz totaled 19 points, three aces and 12 digs. Nolt recorded 10 points, two aces, seven kills and 15 digs. Weaver had 20 kills, 15 assists, 12 digs, four solo blocks and one assist block. Marley Clark ended with seven kills. Miller and Vivi Cisar both had six kills. Cross finished with 30 assists. The Lady Dawgs now have an overall record of 10-6 and a WCAL record of 7-3.
Central Christian School
Central Christian School topped Norwayne 25-12, 25-13, 25-20 at home Sept. 27. Emma Mast totaled nine aces, 11 kills and 10 assists. Claire Yost had three aces. Athena Bowers picked up three aces and 12 digs. Ruthie Nuzum recorded six kills. Mallory Immel had eight digs.
“We had a stellar crowd and our team played with some fervor and zeal tonight,” said Central’s head coach Nate Holton. “Norwayne’s coach Brianne Indorf is coaching her butt off. They’ve had so many key injuries. That’s so hard for these kids. We are finally a little closer to getting our full squad back. Senior Ruthie Nuzum is close to 100 percent back in the front row and sophomore Mattie Mast, who hurt her ankle last week and came in tonight in some spots, is not at 100 percent, but she gave us good rotations. Seniors Alli Mullet and Emma Mast were top notch in all facets, while Athena Bowers is quietly blossoming in the back row.”
The Comets won again the next day when they hosted Mansfield Christian. CCS won 19-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-20. Emma Mast led the way with three aces, 12 kills and 20 assists. Immel had three aces and 13 digs. Nuzum ended with 11 kills. Mullet and Bowers both had 10 digs each.
“With our soccer teams, cross country team and girls tennis team being honored outside on our soccer field tonight, we were challenged to find energy and internal motivation,” said Holton. “We are so proud of all of our teams and how they support each other. Our girls struggled out of the gate and a lot of that was due to Mansfield Christian’s tenacity. We settled in – credit to seniors Alli Mullet, Emma Mast, Ruthie Nuzum and Tati Kozel-Steiner.”
Central ended the week with a 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-11 home loss to Loudonville Sept. 30. Mullet recorded three aces, eight kills and 15 digs. Emma Mast had two aces, eight kills, 18 assists and 13 digs. Mattie Mast totaled two aces. Nuzum led the Comets with 12 kills. Bowers ended with 15 digs.
“We really came out to play tonight,” said Holton. “It seems we were really finding our groove, playing in system. You have to play that way to compete with a team as quality as Loudonville right now. They have had an excellent year. I figured after the first set, if we could’ve just pulled out that second set, we may have had a shot at an upset tonight. But massive credit to Loudonville and their gritty play. They really rose to the occasion.”
