A rough stretch at the end of the third set was a turning point for Republic volleyball in a road loss at Kickapoo on Tuesday. Republic led 21-19 in the third set before Kickapoo scored six of the last seven points to take it 25-22. The Chiefs won the match 3-1 over the Lady Tigers after Republic had taken the opening set.
The Lady Tigers lost the last three sets 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. Republic had won the first set 26-24.
Kate Mitchell had 12 kills and seven aces for Republic. Mitchell served Republic into control early in the third. Down 3-2, the Lady Tigers scored six straight — Reese Finley put down two kills and Mitchell served two aces in the run — to lead 8-3, and Republic was still up 9-4 before Kickapoo scored five in a row to tie it at 10.
Kickapoo went ahead 15-12, and Rylee Dishman’s kill started Republic back toward a 17-16 lead. Rylee Vent blocked to tie the set at 18, and kills by Audrey Pearce and Vent put Republic up 21-19 before Kickapoo came from behind.
The teams were tied 7-7 in the fourth set, but Kickapoo ran off six in a row from there to lead 13-7.
Republic was down 16-10 when it started back. Mitchell put down a kill to make it 17-12, Finley added one at 18-14, and Vent and Finley teamed up on a block to cut it to 18-15. Republic got within 22-20 before Kickapoo closed it out 25-21.
Game page →Vent finished with 22 digs and Finley had 23 assists. Mitchell and Pearce each had three blocks.
Republic’s JV lost 2-1, winning the first set 26-24 before dropping the next two 25-19 and 15-11. The freshman team lost 25-20 and 25-17.
*Stats are unofficial
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