The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
NEW ROLE SUITS SETTER NICELY
Junior Herman’s expanded duties include plays at net
Maddie Herman doesn’t stand out, literally, among her many teammates at Riverside who measure 6-foot or taller.
But at 5-foot-5, the junior setter’s energy catalyzed Riverside to a three-set victory over Kenston on Sept. 12 in a matchup of the Western Reserve Conference’s remaining undefeated teams.
Herman invigorated her teammates with plays at the net in the first set as the Beavers proceeded to defeat the Bombers, 25-21, 2521, 25-13, to take control of first place.
“We were excited because they were a tough team for us,” Herman said. “We always compete with them. This time, being able to beat them in three was just so awesome for us.”
Riverside improved to 9-2 overall with a 6-0 record in WRC play. Two days after Mayfield pushed the Beavers to five sets, coach Ali Vires emphasized energy and confidence in a rematch of last year’s conference title match.
Herman’s kill after Avery Tracz’s serve put Riverside up, 9-4, early in the first set. Herman and Kate Tracz blocked a Kenston shot to give the Beavers game point and take a 1-0 match lead.
“It felt so good,” Herman said. “(Kate’s) always helping me, she always hyping me up to just get big out there. I’ve got to compete with the tall people.”
Abby Bednar’s kill gave Kenston a 16-15 lead in the second set before Riverside bolted ahead, 20-17, and closed out another 2521 victory. The Beavers sustained momentum into the third set to open with a 10-2 run and take the match, 25-13.
Herman recorded 23 assists, three kills and seven digs.
Tracz led the team with 11 kills and added two aces. Senior libero Taylor Reigle posted 12 digs.
For the first time in Vires’ tenure as Riverside’s head coach, the Beavers are running a 5-1 offense featuring Herman as the lone setter. As a freshman and sophomore, she split setting duties with 2019 graduate Aubrey Low in a 6-2 scheme.
So far, Herman’s takeover of Riverside’s offense has gone smoothly. She ranks among the area leaders averaging 9.1 assists per set distributing the ball to Kate and Avery Tracz, Jen Sivak, Cassie Jordan, Olivia Bell and Riverside’s hitters.
“It’s definitely nice,” Kate Tracz said. “We always have the same setter so we have a better connection with each other, it’s not a different setter every time you come around.” Herman admitted she needed a few matches to adjust to playing every point, whereas before she would rotate to the bench while Low was on the floor. She also now must play every rotation, requiring her to be a part of the block at the net.
At times, opponents will attempt find an advantageous matchup and hit over her. When Herman makes plays at the net, it sparks her teammates.
“They get so excited because they work well as a team,” Vires said. “They care about each other, they support each other, so when she’s doing things like that, it pumps them up.”
Kenston fell to 8-2 with a 5-1 record in WRC play. The Bombers’ lone loss prior to the match at Riverside came against NDCL on Aug. 24, the state’s No. 3-ranked team in Division II.
Rachel Apshago led Kenston with eights kills and added three digs. Middle Julia Sell recorded three blocks and five kills. Setter Marcie Oglesbee finished with three kills, 13 assists and a dig.
Passing and service issues prevented the Bombers from establishing rhythm, especially in the third set. In all, coach Tara Everts said, things just didn’t connect.
“I just hope they take it as a lesson,” Everts said. “We have a lot to work on, serve-receive, defense and we’ll be stronger the next time we see them.”