Leyton upends P-D in 3 sets

Leyton High School’s volleyball team posted a big win over rival Potter-Dix at the Banner County Triangular on Tuesday.

The Lady Warriors, who had just lost to powerful Potter-Dix in the Minuteman Athletic Conference tournament championship game over the weekend, got a bit of revenge with a 23-25, 25-13, 25-19 victory.

Leyton’s record stands at 19-7, while the Lady Coyotes slipped to 22-3.

“This was a great game of volleyball against a great team,” said Leyton head coach Jodi Craig. “I was very pleased with our level of performance in the first set, despite the loss. We came back firing in the second set, serving aggressively and attacking well to take the second set win. The third set was a battle, but our serve-receive and blocking kept us in the battle for the third-set win.

“I felt we finally put a game together where all of our players contributed consistently,” Craig said. “There was really no standout player, as we played well together and that cohesiveness allowed us to win.”

Natalie Cruise led the way for Leyton in the win, recording 11 kills, 22 digs and three aces. Teammate Diedra Waite chipped in seven kills, six blocks and 23 digs, while Kristine Barnett had six kills.

Also, Cheyenne Nickel had six blocks, six kills and 26 digs for the Lady Warriors, and setter Taylor Berner registered 29 assists, five blocks and three aces.

No individual statistics were reported for Potter-Dix in its two matches.

In the other matches at the triangular, Leyton defeated Banner County 25-15, 25-12 and Potter-Dix topped B.C. 25-7, 25-13. Banner County fell to 4-15.

In the Leyton’s win over B.C., Waite recorded six kills and two blocks and Cruise added five kills, 11 digs and two aces. Hope Dykman had a pair of aces, Barnett contributed four kills, Nickel registered 11 digs and Berner doled out 15 assists.

Leyton returns to action Thursday, hosting Crawford (9-11). Potter-Dix is off until Tuesday when it travels to Creek Valley.