Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – Waiting a few extra days for its season opener after watching most of the other teams across the state open their seasons last week provided a little extra excitement for Solon on Tuesday.

Playing at home in front of a sizeable crowd added to the environment for the Spartans season-opening quadrangular.

The motivation for Solon came in the form of its opponent on Tuesday.

After having its season end with a four-set loss to West Liberty in a Class 3A regional final last fall Solon got a measure of revenge on opening night.

Class 3A ninth-ranked Solon capped a 2-0 performance at its own quadrangular on Tuesday with a 25-16, 25-18 sweep of 3A No. 7 West Liberty (3-3).

“We ended our season last year against them and we knew we were starting with them this year which was exciting,” Solon junior Grace Erwin said. “That’s a good way to start a season after how we lost last year.”

Solon opened the quadrangular with a 25-21, 25-14 win over West Branch before flipping the script on West Liberty in the rematch of last season’s regional title match.

Junior Aly Stahle had a team-high eight kills in the win over the Comets to lead a balanced Solon attack that featured five players with at least three kills.

Erwin and sophomore Jozie Lahr each had six kills in the win over West Liberty.

“I was impressed, I am not going to lie I didn’t think we were going to be that lights out in the first games,” Erwin said. “We are just all around solid this year and can pick each other up really fast.”

Solon was nearly flawless in attack in a 25-16 opening-set win over West Liberty.

The Spartans had just one hitting error in the opening set which seemed to set the tone for the match.

“The first set we had one hitting error on our side so we really took care of the ball and took care of our game and what we can control,” Solon second-year coach Mikayla Siddell said. “We had a lot of energy and great communication and were able to execute really well.”

Solon completed the sweep with a decisive 25-18 win over the Comets in the second set.

Junior Yasmine Sell added four kills and junior Addie Miller had three for the Spartans which got 21 assists and two ace serves from senior setter Brynn Deike.

“We have great team chemistry, we have great leadership and the girls are buying into the program more,” Siddell said. “It’s really good to see them working together.”

Lahr, Miller, Erwin and Sell all had four kills for Solon in the sweep of West Branch.

Miller and Sell each had two ace serves and Deike had 11 assists in the win over the Bears.

After finishing a game shy of the state tournament last season a spot at state is certainly a goal for the Spartans this year.

“I think we have a chance to be really good and I am hoping to go to state this year, that’s one of our biggest goals,” Sell said. “Each of the past few years we’ve gotten closer and closer. This year we are really excited to see what we can do.”

Class 4A top-ranked Clear Creek Amana joined Solon in going 2-0 on Tuesday and improved to 8-0 on the season.

West Branch dropped to 3-3 with a pair of loss to ranked teams.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.