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NANTICOKE — Delaware Valley hasn’t really been push yet in 2015.

It looked like the Warriors might roll again Monday against Nanticoke Area, but the Trojans made DelValley battle for all 25 points – especially in the second set.

The difference? DV just has a little more experience at this point of the season.

The Warriors needed a 6-0 run on Shelby Gendreu’s serve to create some breathing room in the second set, and Hannah Gallagher finished with a match-high nine kills as Delaware Valley left Nanticoke with a 3-0 victory.

Set scores were 25-8, 25-17 and 25-10. Delaware Valley improves to 6-0 in the Wyoming Valley Conference. It was the first league setback for Debbie Gavin’s young Trojan squad, which was coming off a come-from-behind win over Wyoming Valley West last week.

“We knew it was going to be a match against some good competition, and Delaware Valley certainly provided that,” Gavin said. “I think they toughened up some of our young girls on the court. The speed of the game was definitely different, which was good because it made us react a little quicker. A match like this is good to gain experience.”

Delaware Valley has been rolling along in Pike County.

As a matter of fact, it was on a pretty impressive streak – not allowing its opponent to score double digits in the last eight games.

The Warriors made it nine, holding Nanticoke (4-1) to just eight in the first set.

It wouldn’t be so easy in the second.

DV took an early, 6-1 lead before the Trojans came to life. Three straight attack errors and a kill by sophomore Megan Murphy led to a 6-2 run as Nanticoke found itself down just 8-7.

That’s when Gendreau took over behind the service line.

The sophomore setter strung together a 6-0 run, giving her teammates some breathing room – up 16-8.

The Trojans hung around.

Spikes by Kasey Radginski and Jenna Lipowski cut the deficit to six (23-17) late, but back-to-back kills from Hannah Mathews and Meghan Kiederer ended the set.

The Warriors had 12 of their combined 24 attack and service errors in the second set.

Kiederer took over the third.

The senior middle hitter led an 8-0 run on her serve, lifting DV to a 13-2 advantage. Combine that long run with short spurts on serves by Karley May and Brooke Williams, and the Warriors were off and running to a 25-10 victory to clinch the three-set sweep.

“There was some power and placement with their serves,” Gavin said.

Radginski had four kills to pace GNA, while Abbey Zaykoski and Lipowski combined for five kills and 10 digs. Courtney Mazonis had a team-high seven digs in the defeat.

Gendreau and May had 23 assists, setting up seven different attackers.

“A match like this is good for our girls,” Gavin said. “I would prefer to play games against tough competition like this because you can learn a lot from a loss. Sometimes, you can learn more from a loss than a win. We will get back to practice and get ready for another tough one at North Pocono.”

Wyoming Area 3, Coughlin 0

Jess Sorick led the way with 11 kills, five aces and six service points, while Rachael Solano chipped in with 17 assists and five aces in the Warriors’ 25-10, 25-12, 25-12 win over Coughlin.

Nicole Wright finished with six kills and seven aces for Wyoming Area.

Coughlin’s Meghan Kosek had 11 digs, three kills and two service points and Walkiria Perez recorded three digs, two kills and five service points.

Wyoming Valley West 3, Tunkhannock 2

Gracie Giza had 20 kills, 13 service points and 7 blocks, Audi Welles provided 10 service points and four kills and Gabby Labar added 14 service points to help lead Wyoming Valley West to victory over Tunkhannock. Match scores were: 22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 21-25 and 15-7.

Tunkhannock was led by Amanda Hardy (18 kills), Rachel Fernandez (13 service points, 7 aces) and Megan Straley (9 service points, 3 aces).

MMI Prep 3, Lake-Lehman 0

Dana Caratto’s 11 kils, four assists, 13 digs, 19 service points and three aces led the way as the Preppers edged Lake-Lehman in a five-set thriller.

MMI Prep won 25-17, 15-25, 19-25, 25-20, 15-10.

Desiree Dinko finished with five kills, 10 service points and two aces, Gabbey Kupsho had three kills, one assists, 20 digs , 10 service points and one ace and Lauryn Banyas added 20 assists, two kills, three digs, seven service points and one ace to the win.

Lake-Lehman’s Emily Keithline recorded seven kills and six digs, Ashley Herceg had nine assists and six service points and Hailey Kubiski finished with seven digs and seven kills.

Delaware Valley 3, Nanticoke Area 0

D `25`25`25 – 3

N `8`17`10 – 0

DV Leaders: Hannah Gallagher 9 kills, 1 ace; Karley May 5 kills, 2 aces; 11 assists; Shelby Gendreau, 12 assists.

Nanticoke Leaders: Abbey Zaykoski 2 kills, 5 digs; Jenna Lipowski 3 kills, 5 digs, 1 ace, 9 assists; Courtney Mazonis 7 digs; Kasey Radginski 4 kills.

By Tom Fox

For Times Leader

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