Top-ranked Mendon volleyball won a tight four set match Monday at Constantine; 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23. The contest saw 16 total lead changes as the Falcons made the defending state champion Hornets claw for a non-conference victory.
The first set was tied 10 times as neither squad had a decisive advantage early. Constantine ultimately took the first set 25-21 and carried that momentum into the second set, holding the lead most of the way. Mendon never dropped behind by more than five and finally took their only lead on the 22nd point, allowing for a 25-22 win to even the overall score.
Both held leads as large as five in the third set before seeing a deadlock at 21-21. The Falcons took the lead to 23-21, but the Hornets finished with the final four points during Payton Griffith’s service for a 25-23 win and 2-1 Mendon advantage.
The fourth game saw six lead changes and 10 more tied scores. Constantine again grew the lead to five initially, but the Hornets rallied for a 20-18 lead. The Falcons got back ahead at 23-22, but Mendon took the final three points following a timeout and escaped with a 25-23 victory and 3-1 final.
Miss Volleyball finalist Anna Smith finished with a game-high 24 kills for the Hornets. Griffith topped the defense with 21 digs. Leah Dumm and Madi Tulley both had 13 kills and 19 digs for the Falcons.
Constantine falls to 5-3 with the defeat and have a short turnaround as they travel to Delton Kellogg for a SAC Valley contest Tuesday.
Top-ranked Mendon moves to 12-1 with a Thursday trip ahead to Southwest 10 Conference foe Hartford.
Listen back to Monday’s broadcast here.
Mendon statistics
Anna Smith 24 kills, 4 aces, 4 blocks, 5 assists, 10 digs
Alexis Ames 10 kills, 1 ace, 1 block, 6 digs
Makenna Cupp 3 kills, 2 blocks, 23 assists, 5 digs
Andrea Hoffman 3 kills, 3 blocks, 6 assists, 9 digs
Isabella Smith 2 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, 3 assists, 13 digs
Payton Griffith 21 digs, 2 aces, 1 assist
Ryley Mullin 2 kills
Caylena Briggs 6 digs, 1 assist
Carlie Doehring 1 ace
Makennah Mullin 2 assists
Constantine statistics
Leah Dumm 13 kills, 19 digs, 1 ace
Madi Tulley 13 kills, 19 digs, 1 ace
Hannah Outlaw 6 kills, 6 blocks
Maddy Cullifer 3 kills, 4 aces, 1 block
Maria Buscher 3 kills, 1 block
Laci Lutz 25 digs
Riley Smith 24 assists
Lilly Stears 6 assists