MIDDLETOWN >> Strength in numbers worked for the Middletown Mustangs on Tuesday night as they rallied from a first-set loss to beat the Rancho Cotate Cougars 19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 in non-league varsity volleyball action at Middletown.
“I have three solid middle hitters I can call on,” Middletown coach Vanessa Davis said.
And that’s exactly what Davis did in order to subdue the Cougars. With Abi Hibner not at peak efficiency because of sickness, her substitute, Bella Dubois, filled in nicely when called upon. And the Mustangs’ third middle hitter, Taylor Griffin, also got her licks in as the Mustangs improved to 6-4 on the season.
Hibner racked up 10 kills and five blocks in limited playing time while Dubois added eight kills, two blocks and four digs.
“She came in and did amazing,” Davis said of Dubois.
Griffin matched Hibner for the team lead in kills with 10 and also had three blocks, six digs and two aces.
“She never came out,” Davis said of Griffin. “She was all over the place.”
A large crowd was on hand to watch the Mustangs, who certainly fed off the energy.
“They came to cheer us on and see us win and after the second game we got fired up,” Davis said of her players. “It was nice to see a big crowd for volleyball.”
During the third set, Middletown got another boost in the form of setter Yasamine Heidary, who reeled off 12 straight points at the service line.
“We haven’t had a run like that in awhile,” Davis said. “She lit the place up.”
Middletown hits the road on Thursday to play El Molino in Forestville.
In junior varsity action Tuesday, Rancho Cotate fought off a Middletown rally in the second set to sweep the Mustangs 25-11, 26-24.
“We’ve got some kinks to work out, but we’ll get there,” Middletown coach Nikeedra Davis said of her 2018 squad, which consists of six freshmen and five sophomores.
Davis said team captains Melissa Conley and Syrah Moore did a good job keeping the Mustangs focused in the second set.
Individuals statistics were not available.
Middletown hits the road Thursday to play El Molino in Forestville at 5 p.m.
