SETTING THE SCENE: Two conference dates await the Milford girls volleyball team in the week ahead. The Lady Eagles picked up their first Eastern Cincinnati Conference victory last week, in straight set sweep of Withrow. This week finds the Eagles at Loveland, and home with Glen Este.
A LOOK BACK: After numerous tight, five set losses, Milford collected their first Eastern Cincinnati Conference win when they hosted Withrow Tues., Sept. 20th. The Eagles swept Withrow in three easy sets, 25-5, 25-3, and 25-8, for their first win this month.
On the heels of their first conference win, the Lady Eagles had to travel to face Anderson, one of the conference leaders and a program on the brink of breaking into the top ten of the area coaches’ poll. Though the sets were certainly competitive, Anderson proved too much for the Milford squad, and they fell in three straight sets, 25-11, 25-19, and 25-15.
The schedule didn’t get any easier for the Eagles, as they hosted the Springboro Panthers, who have lost just three matches this season. Milford nearly pulled off a win in set one, but fell 25-23. Springboro went on the take the next two sets, 25-14 and 25-6, to complete the sweep of the Eagles.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Milford’s week will open with a chance to upset ECC leader and #8 Loveland Tigers on their home court when they head to Loveland, followed by a home match with Glen Este.
- Tuesday, 9/27: Milford @ Loveland High School, 7:00 pm
- Thursday, 9/22: Glen Este High School @ Milford, 7:00 pm
INSIDE THE ECC: Loveland lost in conference play for the first time this season, and the loss to Loveland earned the two teams a tie at the top of the ECC standings as both are now 7-1 on the year. Anderson falls to 6-2 following a loss to Turpin last week, while Kings improved to 4-3. Walnut Hills and Glen Este both sit at 3-5, followed by Milford 1-7, and Withrow, 0-7.
Milford leaders in the EEC top 10:
Serves: Lisa Sullivan (3)
Assists: Abby Thierauf (9), Abby Soutter (10)
Digs: Sullivan (t-3)
Blocks: Erica Sharp (t-5)
POLL WATCH: There were no changes in the top four of the Cincinnati Enquirer area coaches’ poll for week six, but an ECC team continued to move up in the rankings. Turpin, ranked sixth last week, moved up to take the fifth position over from Mercy. Loveland held onto eighth for the second week in a row. Milford received 7 votes this week; other ECC programs who received votes include Anderson (15), Kings (12), and Walnut Hills (2).