ROANOKE - Just one point was needed for Roanoke-Benson to secure the first set of Thursday's Tri-County Conference match with Henry from Dick Broers Gymnasium. One chance was squandered, but the Rockets had another, which was also vanquished. That allowed Henry to take the set and later the match 26-24, 25-20.
Elsewhere, the Rockets recorded win number one at the Aug. 31 Spring Valley Hall Early Bird Invitational with a 25-18, 25-8 triumph over LaMoille in pool play. Also in pool play, R-B lost 25-23, 25-13 to Princeton and 25-22, 25-17 to eventual champ Sherrard. In a crossover, the Rockets suffered a 25-22, 25-21 defeat to Fieldcrest. R-B took the first set in the Aug. 29 league opener before Woodland rallied for a 21-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory at DBG. The Rockets downed host Flanagan-Cornell 25-20, 25-22 on Sept. 3. R-B fell 25-17, 25-10 at Eureka on Aug. 27.
Henry/R-B
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A block by Josie Weber put the Rockets (2-7, 0-2) on the brink at 24-22. The Mallards (4-1, 1-1) responded and four consecutive kills from junior southpaw Harper Schrock gave the visitors a set in hand.
While R-B planned on Henry to go out on the perimeter, the ball also went to back row, which is common on the college level, but rare in the prep circles.
"I did expect them to set to the outside, but not so much to the back row to the lefty (Schrock)," commented Rockets' coach Jodie Sauder. "We had several digs...it was just not enough."
Prior to that barrage, Schrock did not record a kill. By the end of the match, she finished with eight.
R-B trailed 7-1 in the second set and 14-4 at one stage, but forged a comeback and tied it at 16 after a service ace from Samantha Bertschi. The Mallards grabbed the next point and never relinquished the lead.
The hosts were able to use the middle attack, but shied away from it as the match progressed.
"We probably could have gone to the middle more," pointed out Sauder. "It's just the execution was not there. Passing broke down a little bit."
Kaitlyn Anderson, who had a team-best 228 kills a season ago, led Henry with 10, while Brynna Anderson added eight. Lauren Harbison handed out 31 assists.
Brianna Harms had seven kills to lead the Rockets, while Weber and Callie Kennell followed with three apiece. Bertschi (nine points) and Lexi Hodel each had nine assists.
According to Sauder, had R-B been able to take the initial set, the complexion of the match might have changed.
"Any time you win the first set your momentum is high so hopefully it carries over into the second," she said. "Both sets, we were down and came back to tie it up and take the lead in the first. I know they have that fight in them. When you have a new group of girls, you are trying to fit them in. It'll take time, but we'll get there."
R-B/F-C
Harms had the hot hand behind the service line with 11 points. Bertschi and Lexi Hodel each had three kills, while H. Hodel dished out six assists. Weber contributed eight digs.
R-B/Eureka
Jordyn Tomlinson served four points, while Bertschi handed out four assists. Harms recorded four digs, while Weber tallied two kills.
Heyworth arrived at DBG for a Tuesday match. The Rockets return to TCC competition tonight at 7 p.m. to meet host Peru St. Bede at Abbot Vincent Gymnasium.
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