Volleyball: Heritage Outlasts Rogers High in 5 Sets

ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage finally finished off a five-set win Thursday night at War Eagles Arena.

The Lady War Eagles had lost its three previous five-set matches this season after leading in two of them.

Heritage finished off crosstown rival Rogers High, earning a tough 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-11) win in 7A-West Conference volleyball.

Heritge (8-7-1, 3-4 7A-West Conference) seized the momentum early in the fifth set behind the play of seniors Maddie Hotelling and Connor McNulty. But Rogers (8-8, 2-5) didn't quit. The Lady Mounties trailed 14-7, but turned away four match points.

Heritage coach Sarah Miser called timeout at 14-10 to calm her team. She admitted her team might have relaxed with the lead in the fifth set earlier this season.

"In the past we've gotten up in the fifth game and then we lose it," Miser said. "I think it comes down to the girls see 'Oh, it's 11-6 or 9-5, we're ahead.' What we did this time we played one game to five. We got there. Don't look at the score.

"It was not the prettiest win we've had, but it's a win and a win in five-sets and I'll take it. I'm not surprised it went five. I'm glad the girls finished the game. It could have gone downhill. I told them, one, we have to serve receive. But we're going to start back over. Score is zero-zero. And take care of the ball."

Senior Emily Sherrill put down a kill to get Rogers within 14-11, but Hotelling finished it off for Heritage.

Junior outside hitter Elleson Dunigan enjoyed a monster night with 26 kills, 31 digs and six service aces to lead the Lady War Eagles.

"She was our go-to all night," Miser said. "Rogers shut down our middles. They did a great job stopping the middle."

Libero Alye Darter finished with a match-high 40 digs. McNulty chipped in eight kills, but the 5-11 senior came up with three kills and two big blocks in the fifth set.

Rogers coach Jeana Breedlove was disappointed with the loss, but pleased with how hard her team fought.

"I thought my girls played really hard," Breedlove said. "Even though they were frustrated in that one set, but they kept pushing. I was proud of them."

Senior Shannon Orlopp led Rogers with 21 kills, while junior Samantha Lassiter chipped in 19 to supply most of the offense. Libero Kimi Davis led the defense with 26 digs.

Sports on 09/26/2014

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