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By Nate Ritchey
nritchey@altoonamirror.com
SIDMAN -- Seventh seeded Tyrone began its match against second-seeded Forest Hills just the way it hoped -- by jumping out to a 1-0 set lead in a tight, back-and-forth affair.
The Lady Rangers turned the tables in the second set by winning in the same close fashion.
Unfortunately for the Lady Eagles, the Rangers were just settling in as they took control in both the third and fourth sets about midway through to claim both sets.
The result was a 3-1 match loss for Tyrone in District 6 Class 2A quarterfinal volleyball action.
"Playing a competitive match like that and winning by two when it's going back-and-forth -- getting that win is huge," Tyrone coach Alesha Weaver said. "It's supposed to set the tone.
"In set 2, they (Forest Hills) came around and they reversed the role on us beating us by two in a really close, competitive match."
The loss ended the Eagles' season at 12-6, while Forest Hills moved to 12-2 and host Richland, a 3-0 winner over Marion Center, in the semifinals on Thursday night.
In the opening set, Tyrone found itself down by three several times and owned its own three-point edge at 12-9.
The Lady Eagles were within 17-16 on a kill by sophomore Sarila Hensley before the Lady Rangers reeled off the next four points to take the largest lead of the set at 21-16.
Tyrone battled back to score six of the next seven points -- three of which came on service from Sarah Zimmerman -- to tie the contest at 22-22.
Zimmerman got the next two points on an assist from setter Maddy Rockwell to Taylan McGlynn, who knocked home the point, and then got a return shot from FH's Mya Colosimo that hit into the net to give Tyrone a 24-22 lead.
Forest Hills garnered the next two points to tie things before Sophia Jacobs served into the net to set up game point again for the Eagles.
On a serve by Tyrone's Kylee Nelson, a return attempt by Jacobs went through the side of the net to give the Lady Eagles a 26-24 first set victory.
"I really think we just shook the nerves off (after the first set)," Forest Hills coach Cassie Layman said. "We didn't really change our lineup too much. We just kind of went out with that mentality that we needed to play like we knew how -- that mental toughness piece. They (Forest Hills) did a nice job capitalizing."
In the second set, the Eagles seemed to be well in command as they stretched the advantage to 18-11t.
Unfortunately, Forest Hills found its rhythm at that point and recorded eight of the next nine points to tie the second set at 19-19. With the score 24-24, Forest Hills libero Lia Konchan delivered two points, including a 26-24 set-clinching point when Tyrone got called for four hits.
"We preach pass and serve, and unfortunately tonight, we struggled with that," Weaver said. "And if you can't pass and serve, you're going to struggle the entire time."
The second set comeback seemed to spark the Lady Rangers as they earned a 25-16 victory to claim a 2-1 match lead.
"Our servers definitely did their job as they put the ball in the seams, and they took them (Tyrone) out of system a little bit," Layman said. "They are a very strong hitting team -- they were really impressed us on the outside and on the weak side."
In the fourth, Forest Hills closed the set on a 15-9 run to win 25-16.
"When you struggle like that, the mental aspect of the game really starts to show," Weaver said. "It's a game of who can have that mental toughness to overcome the mistakes that they make and just leave them behind them and move forward."
SERVICE POINTS
TYRONE: Rockwell 9, Crowell 8, Zimmerman 6, Tuskovich 5, Anthony 5, Nelson 3.
FOREST HILLS: Myers 12, Jacobs 11, Konchan 9, Colosimo 9, Chunta 7, Pax. Pcola 3.
Records: Tyrone (12-6); Forest Hills (12-2).