Northville holds off feisty Salem in entertaining KLAA clash
Northville senior Kaylyn Tuck elevates for a kill against Salem.
The buzzsaw better known as the Northville volleyball team continued to carve out its place atop the KLAA West standings Tuesday night against visiting Salem.
The Mustangs posted a 25-17, 25-17, 25-19 victory over the Rocks, who offered plenty of resistance throughout the well-played match.
Northville (2-0) is currently tied atop the West standings with Brighton.
After winning the school’s first state championship last fall, the Mustangs are currently listed in the honorable mention category in the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association‘s rankings, which are topped by Rockford.
Rocks not intimidated
The Rocks slipped to 1-1 in the division after notching an impressive season-opening win over Howell.
Leading 9-7 in game one, Northville received a spark when Olivia Smith’s block spurred a 7-5 run.
Salem hung tough thanks to kills from Alayna Rasmussen and Sloane Anderson; however, the hosts pulled away, clinching the opening stanza on Ashlyn Swart’s service ace.
The Mustangs exploded to an 11-3 lead in the middle set before Salem stormed back to within 13-11 on back-to-back kills from Tamari Wheatley and Nya Kuhn.
Skylar blocks out the sun
Northville ultimately captured the set thanks to an emphatic block by senior Skylar Marteen.
Leading 15-12 in the final set, the Mustangs sealed the deal on a Kaylyn Tuck service ace and a kill by Allyson Leutheuser. Marteen ended Salem’s upset hopes with a match-ending kill.
Northville’s Charley Romeo and Tuck were phenomenal all night for the winners, while Giselle Burlingame slid across the gymnasium floor to extend several points that appeared to be going Salem’s way.
Several Rocks played well
Salem’s stars were junior all-arounder Elizabeth Nordstrom, senior Delaney Fillman, Wheatley and Kuhn.
The Mustangs’ next test will come Thursday at home against rival Novi.
Salem will make the cross-campus trek to Plymouth to battle the Wildcats.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
