Knightettes sweep Jackson in return to home court

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

FARMINGTON — After playing 16 of its first 17 matches this season either on the road or at a neutral tournament site, the Farmington volleyball team enjoyed a triumphant home-court return on Monday night.

Eight different attackers recorded at least one kill as the Knightettes pounded away at district rival Jackson for a 25-15, 25-20, 25-16 victory in the best-of-five contest.

Senior Lauren Petersen thrived at the net with 10 kills and five blocks to lead Farmington (11-6-1), which entered the action with momentum after going undefeated through six matches at the Troy Tournament on Saturday.

Cassie Garcilaso chipped in six kills and Molly Barnes added five more, while returning all-conference setter Ashley Jenson totaled 24 assists and seven digs for the Knightettes.

Farmington overcame stretches of erratic serve receiving to hold leads of eight points or more in each stanza. A series of missed serves also helped Jackson keep pace midway through game one.

After Katelyn Myracle brought the Lady Indians even at 12-12 with a kill from the middle, Farmington countered by scoring the next four points. A smooth transition highlighted the streak when Barnes ripped a back-set from Jenson deep into the opposite corner.

Consecutive outside kills from Garcilaso helped the Knightettes close the game with five straight points. The host club then surged ahead 9-1 in game two behind effective serving by Holli Hoehn, as Petersen easily put away two overpasses from the Jackson side.

Junior hitter Jill Rushin displayed her power from the middle while leading Jackson on a comeback to within 12-11, but Farmington tallied the next six points to regain control.

Jenson jump-served an ace after surprising the Lady Indians with a nifty second touch over the net for back-to-back points, and Courtney Huering overpowered the back row to make the margin 18-10.

The Knightettes sustained their success in game three by building a 12-4 lead as Jackson was whistled three times for touching the net. Whitney Huering spiked between three defenders for the final kill on match point.

Rushin finished with eight kills and Taylor Glueck posted four with three aces for the Lady Indians (9-8). Rachel Meyr dished out 15 assists.

Farmington, which carries a 27-match conference winning streak over the past six years, will travel to Ste. Genevieve on Thursday for the start of MAAA Large-School division play.