jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

RURAL MIDDLE POINT — Lincolnview got off quickly in its non-conference volleyball matchup with St. John’s Monday night at the Lancerdome, winning the opening set 25-15.
The visitors then rallied to take the match in four sets, winning 25-22, 25-22, 25-18.
Leading the Lady Blue Jays (5-10) were senior Heather Vogt (13 blocks, 5 kills), senior libero Katrina Etzkorn (12 digs), senior Lauren Utrup (9 blocks), classmate Christie Carder (16 assists), senior Emily Horstman (4 aces) and classmate Bailie Hulihan (4 kills).
The Lady Lancers (4-8) were led by senior libero Whitney Miller (35 digs, 5 aces), senior Jodie Doner (14 kills), junior Ashley McClure (8 kills) and sophomore Devann Springer (8 kills).
The Lady Lancers did everything coach Heather Crow wanted in the opening set, serving well, digging and hitting well. On the other side of the net, the Blue Jays struggled to follow the game plan of coach Kellie Sterling. In the end, the Lancers got the 10-point win to take a 1-set lead.
“Our serve-receive in the first set was not quite there, to say the least. We couldn’t run an offense because of it,” Sterling said. “After that set, we picked it up. That allowed us to begin to get some hits at the net because we could get into a set and run our offense. Plus, we started getting more touches and blocks on their hits, which helped our defense and allowed us to transition into an offense.”
Crow was pleased with her team’s play the first set.