A bunch of balanced bashing Bulldogs

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By John Bombatch

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XENIA — There was a lot of bashing and balance going on, Thursday night in the Legacy Christian Academy High School gymnasium, and most of it was being done by Yellow Springs.

The visiting Bulldogs used a balanced attack to bash several kills and line-drive serves LCA’s way in a convincing 25-10, 25-5, 25-13 win.

“That’s how we play. They’re looking really good right now, and they’re actually all contributing to the win,” said Yellow Springs coach Christine Linkhart. “We finally figured out a good lineup where everybody knows their position, and they play it well.”

Seven different Bulldog ball bashers recorded kills in the win. Elizabeth Smith led the way with five kills and three service aces. Sophomore middle hitter Alex Ronnebaum clouted four kills, and had a block and a service ace, Dede Cheatom had three kills, Julian Roberts and Elle Peifer both smacked a couple kills, and Linkhart’s daughters — senior setter Kasey and sophomore setter Tyler (2 kills) — combined for six kills, a couple ace serves and two blocks.

“We’ve been working on our service game, and I think we’re really improved in that aspect of our game this year,” coach Linkhart said. “It’s killer. We’ve got a couple jump servers, and we’re a lot stronger this season.

“(Payden Kegley), my libero, did a nice job of digging everything that came her way, and (Cheatom) did a nice job coming off the bench for us. It’s nice, because they all contributed in some way.”

Forty three percent of Yellow Springs’ 75 points came off kills or blocks.

Legacy coach Jay Hale sat his entire squad down on the north side of the gymnasium floor for a nearly 20-minute talk after the loss. His Knights also recorded 43 percent of their points off winning hits. Problem was, they only recorded 28 points in the match.

“We’ve been working a lot on our defense, and I thought that went fairly well,” Hale said. “Our biggest goal right now is just communicating with each other. I think that’s the most important key to our improving our teamwork. You have to let people know where you are, how you feel, in order for you to get through the problem that’s ahead of you.”

Hale said he appreciated the work of senior libero Pam Howarah. “She was all over the place tonight. I thought she did a really nice job for us,” he added.

Unofficially, Robin Wharton led the Knights with three kills, while Elizabeth Lee and Kiley Mach had two each. Senior middle blocker Rachel Griffith recorded three blocks.

“We still have (14) games to go, and that’s plenty of time for us to improve our game. We’re not done yet,” Hale said.

The match was the Metro Buckeye League opener for both teams.

Yellow Springs is now 5-2, 1-0 MBC, and will host Dayton Stivers at 7:15 p.m. today in a nonleague match.

Legacy Christian lost its third straight match. They’re now 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the MBC. The Knights are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 13 when they’ll play a 6:45 p.m. league match at Springfield Emmanuel Christian.

Yellow Springs senior Elizabeth Smith (11) had five kills and three aces in the Bulldogs’ 25-10, 25-5, 25-13 win Thursday night at Legacy Christian Academy.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/09/web1_ElizSmithHit_PS.jpgYellow Springs senior Elizabeth Smith (11) had five kills and three aces in the Bulldogs’ 25-10, 25-5, 25-13 win Thursday night at Legacy Christian Academy. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Yellow Springs sophomore Alex Ronnebaum (14) hits over Legacy Christian Academy’s Rachel Griffith, Thursday, in a Metro Buckeye Conference girls high school volleyball opener for both schools.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/09/web1_RonnebaumBash_PS.jpgYellow Springs sophomore Alex Ronnebaum (14) hits over Legacy Christian Academy’s Rachel Griffith, Thursday, in a Metro Buckeye Conference girls high school volleyball opener for both schools. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Bulldog freshman Tyler Linkhart (8) goes up for a block during Thursday’s three-set win over host Legacy Christian Academy in Xenia.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/09/web1_TLinkhartBlock4_PS.jpgBulldog freshman Tyler Linkhart (8) goes up for a block during Thursday’s three-set win over host Legacy Christian Academy in Xenia. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Legacy Christian coach Jay Hale credited senior libero Pamela Howarah (12) for playing a solid game for the Knights in Thursday’s loss to visiting Yellow Springs.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/09/web1_HowarahHit_PS.jpgLegacy Christian coach Jay Hale credited senior libero Pamela Howarah (12) for playing a solid game for the Knights in Thursday’s loss to visiting Yellow Springs. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Reach John Bombatch at 937-372-4444, Ext. 2123.

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