These two rivals play each other twice a year and that has helped fuel an even deeper rivalry than what might be expected in volleyball, as Aurora edged the Lady Mt'neers in two sets, 25-22 and 25-18.
"Rivalries make for great good-natured volleyball," said first-year Aurora head coach Skye Wade after experiencing her first taste of Aurora and Mt. Vernon. "I loved our hustle and competitive nature tonight."
Aurora's Julia McVey got things going early for the Lady Houn's, as she served Aurora to a 4-0 lead, which included a block and kill from Baylee Husmann. However, Mt. Vernon didn't blink and answered with four points in a row of their own to tie it at 4-4. The two sides battled to 15-13 in favor of Aurora, with Aurora never giving up the lead but never leading by more than two points.
"We are young and inexperienced," said Mt. Vernon head coach Bridgett Schmutz, "but this group is a lot of fun to coach. They will continue to get better, for sure." Mt. Vernon graduated six seniors from last year's squad.
Aurora was able to put a rally together with McVey serving again, scoring four in a row to lead 19-13, forcing the Lady Mt'neers to call a timeout. The Lady Houn's held on to win the first set 25-18.
In the second set, Aurora once again scored the first four points, but Mt. Vernon countered with the next five to lead for the first time all night. It would be a short lead and the only time they would have the advantage, as Aurora scored nine out of the next 12 points to lead the Lady Mt'neers 13-8.
The Lady Houn's, who improved to 7-6 on the year, never looked back and took the second set 25-22 and the match in two sets. Mt. Vernon dropped to 3-4 on the season with the loss.
"Tonight was a real team effort," said Wade. "The girls stepped into their roles, earned points and worked together for a big win."
For Mt. Vernon, coach Schmutz is not worried about her young team.
"We do our best to surround ourselves with winning coaches and competitive kids," she said, "and when you do that, winning will come. We have gone all the way back to the fundamentals and it will help this group be very competitive."
Aurora was led by Kaylee Huffman with 25 digs, while McVey added nine kills and 3 serving aces. Rachel Negre had 25 assists for Aurora, while Brooke Bellamy added three blocks and Husmann had two blocks.
Senior Morgan Hull had eight kills, nine digs and one block to lead the Lady Mt'neers. Raelin Swillum added 15 assists.
