Galion bounced back from a defeat earlier this week with a sweeping victory over Buckeye Valley Thursday night.
The Tigers swept the Barons, 25-11, 25-22, 25-16, in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference match on a night that the team designated as Senior Night, honoring the seniors who are graduating next spring.
“Senior Night is always a big emotional night for us,” said Galion head coach Jaime Valentine.
Galion (14-7, 10-4 MOAC) came off a rough night, she says, after the team lost to North Union Tuesday.
Thursday night was a different story.
“They rebounded well,” Valentine said.
The Tigers took the advantage by scoring early and often in each set to earn the sweep of Buckeye Valley. The Barons stayed within four points of the Tigers, who went on a 7-0 run to build a insurmountable lead in the first set.
Valentine said the team’s performance during the second set was similar how the team played in Tuesday night’s loss. The Barons came much closer in the second set and, at one point, tied the game 22-22 with the Tigers, who took its first timeout that night. Buckeye Valley didn’t score any more points as the Tigers scored the additional two points needed points to win that set.
The Tigers took a big lead in the third set after scoring seven straight points to cruise to a 24-14 lead. Buckeye Valley was able to score just two more points before the Tigers scored game point, winning the match.
“I’m just really proud of them,” Valentine said.
She said the team’s three seniors – Bradlee Saterfield, Kiki Staton and her daughter Taylor Valentine – had a good night at the game.
The Tigers racked up a total of 42 digs, 34 kills and 24 assists.
Taylor Valentine led Galion with 12 kills and also had ten digs. Marisa Gwinner also tallied 12 kills. Callie Wildenthaler and Dusty Thomas both ended up with seven digs.
Saterfield finished with 17 assists, four digs and three kills.
Staton finished ended with three kills, a dig and an assist.
“It was a really emotional night,” Taylor said, referring to that Thursday night’s game is her official last game before the tournament begins.
But she’s excited about what’s next in her future with plans to go to college. She is currently deciding between Heidelberg University in Tiffin and Notre Dame College in Euclid.
Galion will open postseason play Wednesday when Willard visits the GHS gym in the Div. III Attica District. The Tigers defeated the Crimson Flashes in five sets on Aug. 29.
Galion is playing in the Div. III tournament this season for the first time after having spent the past several years in Div. II.
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Reach Klein at 419-468-1117, ext. 2048.
