Wayne County Life

johnaddyman@WayneCountyLife.com

     NEWARK (Sep 30 10) -- "That was awesome," said Newark volleyball coach Matt May. "We haven't a crowd like that here since forever."

     On a rainy night in Wayne County, the inside of the Newark gym was a bright and cheery place, very hospitable to the Waterloo volleyball team, which handed the Newark Lady Reds a 3-0 loss (25-20, 25-15 and 25-17).

     The real warmth, and something that lifted a pretty solid beating to something that seemed a whole lot more exciting, was a group of about 40 very loud students who formed their own cheering section and, well, cheered. The Waterloo jayvee girls got together and responded, so the atmosphere in the gym adopted a whole new dynamic.

     Newark looked lost in the first game but hung with the Indians, keeping it close until the score was 17-20, then Waterloo's Alicia Knapton took the service and four points later, the Reds were on the ropes.

In the second game, Waterloo got ahead and was only tested in the middle section, when it was Newark's Melissa Kline who had the hot serving hand, with the Reds running through five quick points, four of them on Kline aces. But the Indians regained control and Newark was done, 25-15.

Allison Miller and Maria Croft make a block

Melissa Kline serving for Newark

     "We played with a little more energy in that second game," said May. "Maybe that was part due to the crowd. I thought we were in it more because of the noise in the gym, but I looked up and we were behind 10 points."

     He said the energy the ad hoc student cheering section supplied was incredible. "We have to respond to that a little better," he said. "But tonight Waterloo just played out of their minds."

     The third game was the closest of the night with seven ties to 15-15, then Waterloo sprinted to the win.

     Lindsay Johnson had eight kills for Waterloo, with Knapton and Em Boudreau adding three apiece. Knapton led the service with seven aces.

     Newark's Kline had five kills and five service aces; Allison Miller had four kills and three blocks. "Allison has been very good for us," said May. "We're trying to figure out a way to give her more opportunities. When she's been able to get the contacts, her hitting percentage is in ther .400s."

     The Reds are now 2-7 (2-5 league); Waterloo is 5-5 (4-3 league).

     Next up for Newark is the Dig Pink night Tuesday, against Wayne, at home.