Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – For Solon senior Jozie Lahr each of the last three seasons have ended the same way – with disappointment.

Last season was the most successful in the last decade for Solon as the Spartans won 28 matches but ended the season with a home loss in the regional semifinals.

This season Lahr and her senior teammates have a different ending in mind.

“The last three year’s I felt like we’ve never really been satisfied with the finish to our season,” Lahr said. “This year we are accomplishing things and every single game we accomplish more and I think there is a lot left out there for us to accomplish.”

Solon checked another accomplishment off the list on Tuesday with a 28-26, 25-18, 25-20 senior night sweep of Class 3A No. 10 West Delaware (24-6, 2-2) in a WAMAC East Division showdown in Solon.

Seniors Kiley Devery, Lahr and Gable Knight combined for 27 kills as Class 4A eighth-ranked Solon improved to 19-5 on the season and 3-1 in WAMAC East Division play.

“I think the seniors know deep inside they have underachieved in their career and I think they really want to prove before they are done that they are a good group of volleyball players,” Solon coach Ruben Galvan said. “They are good volleyball players but they are better kids than they are players.”

Devery had a match-high 15 kills on Tuesday as Solon moved into a tie with Mount Vernon at 3-1 atop of the WAMAC East Division standings with one match to play.

Lahr had seven kills while junior Avery Kellen added nine kills and freshman Amelia Guinn had six for the Spartans.

“I think our defense was good and I thought our offense didn’t let down,” Galvan said. “We were aggressive and we’ve been talking about that. We have a lot of weapons and sometimes our weapons get shy and they don’t fire but that is something I’ve been on them about is just going after it.”

Solon came up with the key plays late in a 28-26 win in the opening set.

West Delaware fought off three set points and pulled even at 26-all on a kill by senior Lauren LeClere.

Solon answered with a kill by freshman Makinley Galvan and Lahr secured the win with her fifth kill of the opening set.

“I think that our talent takes us a lot of the way but a lot of our success is the team aspect,” Solon senior setter Cydney Jaster said. “We trust each other so much and we all can put our faith in each other and no matter what the other team throws at us we knew we can handle it. I really think that’s what helped us excel and pull through in this game.”

Solon cruised to a 25-18 win the second set and used a 5-0 run in the third set to build a 13-11 lead it would never give up.

Devery had 11 of her 15 kills in the final two sets as the Solon offense got rolling.

“I was so excited, this game really means something to me and all the seniors,” Devery said. “Going out with all my best friends on the team with a win just felt amazing.”

Jaster had a team-high 21 assists in the win and senior libero Kennedey Whitford led Solon with 20 digs.

“We’ve been working a lot on team unity, team chemistry, believing in each other and when someone is down trying to get them up in a really positive way,” Galvan said. “Our captains have done a tremendous job. I am really proud of them.”

West Delaware          26  18  20                   

Solon                         28  25  25       

West Delaware (Kills-aces-blocks)

Maleigha Hildebrand 0-1-0, Vedah Langel 3-0-1, Lauren LeClere 17-0-0, Natalie Mensen 5-0-0, Katie Kass 0-0-1, Sofia Schulte 0-1-0, Karly Ogden 3-0-3, Totals 28-2-5.

Assists – Natalie Mensen 19

Solon (Kills-aces-blocks)

Kennedey Whitford 0-1-0, Makinley Galvan 4-0-1, Macy Fuller 0-1-0, Amelia Guinn 6-0-1, Cydney Jaster 0-1-0, Jozie Lahr 7-0-2, Kiley Devery 15-0-3, Gable Knight 5-0-1, Scarlett Ferin 1-2-0, Avery Kellen 9-0-3, Totals 47-5-12.

Assists – Cydney Jaster 21, Scarlett Ferin 16, Kennedey Whitford 1

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