Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Having lost two straight games and then two sets, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ volleyball team was looking down the barrel of another loss.
But the Lady Fighting Tigers began to fight back as they rallied to beat the Fairland Lady Dragons in five sets on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Fairland won 25-19 and 27-25 but then Ironton won three straight tough sets 26-24, 27-25 and 17-15.
“Both teams played extremely hard tonight. We just got lucky,” said Ironton coach Beth Campbell. “The entire team worked for that victory tonight and they each earned it.”
Offensively, Lexi Wise had 15 kills, M’Kenzie McMaster eight, Samantha LaFon six and Mary Beth Burton four. Ali White had 35 setting assists.
Defensively, Burton had nine blocks and McMaster five.
“We have been working on our hitting coverage a lot and it showed this evening,” said Campbell. “Fairland attacked the ball a lot tonight and the girls were literally throwing themselves on the floor saving balls from hitting the floor.
“McKenzie Cremeens was playing under the weather and had 2 digs. Wise and White shared 20 digs, Samantha LaFon had 15 and Riley Schreck 13.”
Schreck had 13 points to lead Ironton, White 12, LaFon and Peighton Rowe 10 each, Cremeens nine points with six aces, Wise six and Demi Sands five.
Emily Chapman had 14 points to lead Fairland. Marikate Polycen and Kelsie Warnock got 13 points each, Sydney Waters 12, Jenna Stone 11 and Bailey Roland seven.
In the reserve game, Fairland won 25-21, 25-20. Jordyn Koerper had 11 points and Malea Delawder eight for Ironton.
Ironton won its jayvee game on Tuesday at Portsmouth 27-29, 25-16, 25-14 as Koerper scored 19 points and Kaylee Blankenship 11.
Ironton visits Chesapeake on Tuesday and hosts Gallipolis next Thursday.