Fairfield scrambles to sweep

MT. PLEASANT — The latest edition of the Fairfield-Mt. Pleasant volleyball rivalry went the way of the Trojans on Tuesday night. The Trojans pulled off the first two sets and hauled a Panther run in the third to get out with a 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 victory.

Set 1 was a battle between the two squads. Fairfield had the hot-hand early, leading 12-6 thanks to a trifecta of aces from Coty Engle. Mt. Pleasant would storm back to tie the game at 13-13 on an Alex Scott ace, but the Panthers would never take back the lead.

Fairfield led throughout the first set, thanks in part to a lot of success on scramble balls. The Trojans would break a 23-23 tie to go up by one, and Macy Rayburn finished it off with a game-winner, giving Fairfield 25-23 first set victory.

“We continued to tell them to come together,” said Fairfield co-coach Stephanie Herman. “Support each other, and come together.”

The two teams were tied again in the second, this time at 15-15 when Mt. Pleasant’s Kate Schimmelpfennig scored on an ace, but Fairfield would end the set on a 10-0 run.

While the Trojans were able to keep the ball up on their side, Mt. Pleasant struggled. Fairfield had three aces down the stretch, including a pair by Lily Bergren, and every time Mt. Pleasant seemed to have a point, the Trojans would keep it off the court.

“We recognize that we’ve got a lot of scrappy kids,” said Fairfield co-coach Vicki Rebling. “A lot of times, we are just encouraging them to keep the ball playable.”

Fairfield seemed to be in control in the third, building an early eight-point lead, at 12-4, but Mt. Pleasant clawed back to make it a game.

A serve streak by Kiera Frazier helped the Panthers get the game back within five points, at 12-7.

Later in the game, the Panthers got the lead down to three when a block by Andrea Lopreato and a kill by Emma Starr cut it the Trojan advantage to 20-17. Mt. Pleasant was within two points when Scott blocked a Fairfield kill attempt to bring the score to 24-22.

“That shows character for the girls,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach David Streeter. “They didn’t give up. They could have easily rolled over when it was 22-17, but they dug in.”

But the Panthers couldn’t quite keep the Trojans off the scoreboard long enough to tie it up. Fairfield’s Rowan Terrell sent a spike off a Mt. Pleasant block and into the net, and the Trojans celebrated a 3-set victory.

“I think (the key) was just working together really well,” said Fairfield libero Kiya Robertson. “Coming together after each point and just being there for one another.”

Bergren led the Fairfield squad with nine kills on the day. Maggie Rayburn had seven.

Robertson led the Trojans with 17 digs. Engle had four service aces, and both Terrell and Addi Ferrel had three. Maddie Jones dished out 15 assists.

Fairfield moved to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in SEC play with the win. Mt. Pleasant is now 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the league.