ATHENS — Athens saw its 2021 season come to an end at home Thursday night with a 3-0 loss to Large School champ North Penn-Liberty in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Mountaineers won by scores of 25-19, 25-14, and 25-18.

Senior Ally Martin led Athens with five points, including four aces, six kills, and 15 digs, while junior Jenny Ryan had two points, seven kills and 15 digs, and senior Taylor Walker had nine kills and 11 digs.

Freshman Ella Coyle recorded 27 digs, while junior Audrey Clare had 12 digs and two kills, junior Cassy Friend registered three kills, and juniors Braelynn Wood and Kassie Babcock each chipped in with three digs.

Athens wraps up the season at 6-10.

ATHENS — For all intents and purposes, Athens’ volleyball season ended Saturday with a loss in the opening round of the District 2-4 Sub-Regionals, but it  still had a couple league games remaining this week.

After a good performance in a non-league loss at Corning Monday, Athens coach Heather Hanson decided to let her young team have a little fun Tuesday in what turned out to be a 3-1 home loss to Wellsboro.

“I did a skills challenge for the girls when we played Corning,” said Hanson. “If they achieved the goal I had set for them, they would be able to create the line ups for tonight's match.

“Let the girls be in charge of the line-ups for this game,” she noted. “Everyone wanted to try different spots so I put it in their hands, and every once in awhile made a suggestion.

“It was fun to watch them play and try something different,” added Hanson. “They played really well.”

Junior Jenny Ryan had a triple-double to lead the Lady Wildcats, registering 14 service points (two aces), 17 kills, 21 digs, and seven setter assists, while senior Ally Martin had 10 points six kills, and 11 digs, and freshman Kassie Babcock had eight points, six kills, and 10 digs.

Senior Taylor Walker had seven points, six kills, and six digs for Athens, while junior Cailin McDaniel had six points (two aces), and two digs, freshman Ella Coyle had four points and 24 digs, junior Audrey Clare had four points, three kills, and 10 digs, and junior Braelynn Wood had four points and 14 digs.

Athens, now 6-9, closes out the season Thursday when it hosts North Penn-Liberty.

CORNING — Athens got off to a quick start, but Corning righted the ship and won a 3-1 decision here Monday night in non-league volleyball action.

The Lady Wildcats, now 6-8, won the first set 25-20, but the Lady Hawks bounced back with wins of 25-18, 25-10, and 25-14 to win the match.

Freshman Kassie Babcock led Athens with eight points, including three aces, and four digs, while junior Jenny Ryan had seven points (two aces), 11 setter assists, three kills, and nine digs, and freshman Ella Coyle had six points (two aces), and 21 digs.

Senior Ally Martin had four points, a team-high six kills, and 14 digs for the Lady Wildcats, while senior Taylor Walker had two points, four kills, one block, and 12 digs, junior Audrey Clare had two points (two aces), three kills, and 13 digs, junior Cassy Friend registered two kills and one block, and junior Braelynn Wood recorded seven digs.

Athens returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Wellsboro.

BERWICK —  Last year, Berwick ended Athens’ Cinderella run through the District 2-4 Class AAA Sub-Regionals in the finals. This year, Berwick ended it before it could even get started.

The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Wildcats by scores of 25-15, 25-15, and 25-11 here Saturday in the opening round of the District 2-4 Class AAA Sub-Regionals.

“It was a good effort,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “Berwick has a big powerhouse hitter and that took the momentum from us.

“It was a great experience for the girls. I am so proud of them and the effort they put in,” added Hanson.

In 2020,  a senior-laden Athens team entered the Sub-Regionals as the seventh seed, and promptly upset second-seeded Greater Nanticoke in a five-set thriller. In the semis, Athens swept Tunkhannock to advance to the championship match against top-seeded Berwick.

Led by a pair sophomore hitters — 6-1 Cece Isenberg and 5-10 Sarah Steeber, Berwick swept Athens.

The Lady Bulldogs, who return nearly everyone from last year’s team, dominated play at the net Saturday.

Junior Braleynn Wood led Athens with seven service points, six assists, and three digs, while senior Taylor Walker had six points, and seven digs, and freshman Ella Coyle had four points and 14 digs.

Freshman Kassie Babcock had four points, including three aces, and three kills, while junior Audrey Clare had four points, four assists, and four digs, senior Ally Martin had three points, five digs, and two kills, junior Cassy Friend added three kills, and junior Cailin McDaniel chipped in with two digs.

Athens, now 6-7, wraps up the regulars season with three matches next week, beginning at Corning Monday.

TOWANDA — Athens started strong and cruised to a sweep of Towanda here Wednesday night in NTL Large School volleyball action, clinching a postseason berth in the process.

With the win, Athens improves to 6-6 and qualifies for postseason play. Because there are just two Class AAA teams in District 4, the Lady Wildcats will attempt to play its way into the state tournament through District 2. They open play Saturday at top-seeded Berwick (12-1) at noon in the opening round of the District 2-4, Class AAA Sub-Regionals.

“I am really proud of this team for putting it together,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “We talked a lot about finding a way or making one.

“They have come together as a team and that's the biggest thing,” added Hanson. “Learning that together everyone achieves more is the most important life lesson.”

The Lady Wildcats topped the Lady Black Knights Wednesday by scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 25-17.

“I am very proud of the girls, and how they played tonight,” said Hanson. “The girls played incredible.

“We were missing Taylor Walker, who is one of our loud girls, (but) Ally Martin really stepped up and was loud and had massive kills tonight,” Hanson added.

ATHENS — Junior Jenny Ryan had a triple-double to lead Athens to a sweep of Troy here Monday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.

The Lady Wildcats, now 5-6, won by scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 26-24.

“The ladies played well tonight,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “They worked great as a team tonight again.”

Ryan recorded 18 digs, 11 kills, and 13 setter assists to go along with five service points to lead the Lady Wildcats, while senior Taylor Walker had 12 points, 13 digs, five kills, and three assists, and senior Ally Martin had 10 points (two aces), 16 digs, seven kills, and one block.

Freshman libero Ella Coyle had eight points, and 22 digs in the win, and junior Cassy Friend registered five blocks and two kills.

“Ella Coyle with 22 digs and 17 serve receptions; she showed why she is wearing that purple jersey,”
 said Hanson. Casey Friend was a wall tonight, with f solo blocks — that has got to be a record at Athens.”

Junior Braelynn Wood added seven points, four digs, and two kills for the Lady Wildcats, while freshman Kassie Babcock had three points, and two kills, and junior Audrey Clare chipped in with four assists.

Athens returns to action Thursday at Towanda.

LIBERTY — North Penn-Liberty remained unbeaten in league play with a sweep of Athens, which was playing in its third road match in four nights, here Thursday evening in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Mountaineers won by scores of 25-6, 25-20, and 25-14.

“We played like a team and played like we were winning,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “The attitudes were awesome and play was hard. As a coach, that’s what you want to see.

“NPL is a great team,: she noted. “We definitely had to earn our points.

“Interestingly, we missed six serves tonight and we missed 6 serves last night,” added Hanson. “When you win 6 missed serves isn't a lot. When you lose 6 missed serves is a lot.

Jenny Ryan had 21 digs, three kills, and two points (two aces), while Ella Coyle had 17 digs, Ally Margin had 13 digs, and five kills, and Taylor Walker registered seven kills and five digs.

Braelynn Wood had four kills and four digs for the Lady Wildcats, while  Kassie Babcock chipped in with seven digs, Audrey Clare added six digs, and Cassy Friend chipped in with two kills and two digs.

Aubry Pequingot led NP-L with 22 assists, 13 digs, and three aces, while Darby Stetter had 15 kills and 20 digs, Megan Spohn added 10 assists, and three aces, and Payton Chapel and Emerald Walker had kills and one block apiece.

Athens, now 4-6, hosts Troy Monday night.

TOWANDA — Back at full strength, Athens put together one of its best performances of the season in a sweep of Towanda here Wednesday night in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Wildcats, who were without two starters Tuesday in a loss to Wellsboro, won by scores of 25-15, 25-16, and 25-20.

“It was a great ‘team’ effort,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “No ‘one’ individual outperformed the other. They all did it together.”

The Wildcats were nearly perfect at the service line, putting 64 of 70 serves (91 percent) in play.

Jenny Ryan led Athens with five service points, four kills, one block and four digs, while Audrey Clare had three service aces, eight kills, and seven digs, and Kassie Babcock had two aces, eighth kills and three digs.

Ella Coyle recorded 18 digs for the Lady Wildcats, while Ally Martin had two aces, four kills, and six digs, Braelynn Wood had two aces, three kills, and four digs, Taylor Walker had five kills and six digs, Cailin McDaniel added four digs, and Cassy Friend chipped in with one block.

Paige Manchester had 21 kills, two blocks, two points, and 10 digs for Towanda, as Addy Maynard had eight points, and nine digs.

Maddy Maynard finished with six points, and 11 digs, as Aliyah Nimmo had a point, with six digs.

Athens, now 4-5, returns to action Thursday night at North Penn-Liberty in its third road match in as many nights.

WELLSBORO — Short-handed Athens, playing without two starters, dropped a 3-0 decision here Tuesday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.

The Lady Green Hornets won by scores of 25-9, 25-17, and 25-13.

Taylor Walker led Athens with 13 setter assists, two kills, and one block, while Cassy Friend had 13 digs, two kills, and one block, and Braelynn Wood added seven kills, one block, and three digs.

Ally Martin had six digs and two kills for the Lady Wildcats, while Ella Coyle registered five digs and two kills, and Kassie Babcock chipped in with three kills and three digs.

Athens, now 3-5, returns to action Thursday at Large School-leading North Penn-Liberty.

TROY — Athens fended off a late comeback bid to post a 3-1 win over Troy here Thursday night in NTL Large School volleyball action.

“The girls, as a team, played really well,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “It was super-refreshing to watch them play with more relentlessness.”

Hanson said the Lady Wildcats made a couple of adjustments after Tuesday’s loss.

“We tried a couple different things tonight, and that seemed to help out,” she said. “I was glad to hear them be so loud, especially with a super-loud Troy crowd.”

The Lady Wildcats won the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-15, but the Lady Trojans forced a fourth set with a 25-18 win in the third set. Athens closed  out the match with a 25-20 victory.

Jenny Ryan led Athens seven points — all aces, 14 kills, 12 setter assists, and 18 dig, while Ally Martin had 12 points, six kills, and 12 digs, and Kassie Babcock had eight points, six kills, and 11 digs.

Taylor Walker had four points, five kills, and 11 digs in the win, while Braelyn Wood had four points, six assists, two kills, and 13 digs, Cassy Friend added three points (three aces), and four digs, Ella Coyle recorded 12 digs, and Cailin McDaniel chipped in with one block.

Athens, now 3-4, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts North Penn-Liberty.

ATHENS — Wyalusing won a pair of close decisions, then fought off an Athens comeback bid in a 3-1 win here Tuesday night in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Rams won the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-22, before the Lady Wildcats extended the match with a 25-19 win in the third set. Wylausing closed out the match with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set.

“We are having moments here and there,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “However, in between those moments. the opponent is getting 4 to 6 points, so we are going to have to figure out a way to break it up.

“It's not unforced errors,” she added. “It seems like we are making lots of forced errors and that really brings morale down. We need to believe in 'together we are amazing' versus 'Look at what I did.’”

Jenny Ryan led Athens with eight service pints, including three aces, a team-high 13 kills, 18 digs, and 14 setter assists, while Caddy Friend had eight points (three aces), seven kills, and four digs, and Kassie Babcock had eight points, four digs, and three kills, and one block.

Taylor Walker had seven points, four digs, and three kills for the Lady Wildcats, while Braelynn Wood had seven points, four digs, and three kills, Ally Martin had five points, including four aces, six kills, and seven digs, Ella Coyle had two points, and 10 digs, and Cailin McDaniel chipped in with two digs.

Athens, now 2-4, returns to action Thursday at Troy.

TIOGA JUNCTION, Pa. — Williamson swept past Athens in straight sets here Thursday night in NTL volleyball action, but Lady Wildcat coach Heather Hanson said her team did itself no favors.

Our own errors cost us the match,” she said. “Athens dominated beating Athens tonight. We made so many errors … all Williamson had to do was get the ball over to our side.

“Our serve receive was brutal,” noted Hanson. “If we had the pass, we couldn't set; if we had the set; we couldn't hit; and if we got the hit, we were in the net.

All our error added up to Williamson beating us in three,” added Hanson. “We need to find a way or make one.”

Williamson won by scores of 25-17, 25-13, and 25-13.

Jenny Ryan led Athens with three service points, 14 digs, five setter assists, two kills, and two blocks, while Taylor Walker had nine digs, three kills, and two blocks, and Ella Coyle had 20 digs.

Audrey Clare recorded 16 digs for the Lady Wildcats, while Ally Martin had 12 digs, Kassie Babcock had six digs, and Cailin McDaniel and Braelynn Wood each added three digs.

Athens, now 2-3,hosts Wyalusing Tuesday.

ATHENS — Athens dominated the first two sets, and fended off a Sayre rally in the third set to post a sweep of its crosstown rival here Tuesday night in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Wildcats, now 2-2, won by scores of 25-14, 25-11, and 25-21.

“The girls played well tonight,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “I was pleased with their performance and they should be pleased with how they played.”

Audrey Clare led Athens with nine service points, including seven aces, six digs and two hits, while Jenny Ryan had six points, including five aces, five kills, and four digs, and a team-high 13 setter assists, and Kassie Babcock added three points (two aces) and three kills.

Ally Martin contributed five kills and five digs in the win, while Taylor Walker had two points, two digs, and a team-high nine kills, Ella Coyle had two points and two digs, Cailin McDaniel added two kills and two digs, and Braelynn chipped in with two points (two aces).

Rachel Vandermark led Sayre with four service aces and two digs, while Emma Smith had three aces, two aces, and two digs, Gabby Shaw registered three blocks and two digs, Alexis Frisbie recorded eight digs, Aliyah Rawlings added three digs, and Maddison Belles chipped in with one block.

Athens travels to Williamson Thursday, while Sayre, now 1-5, travels to Wyalusing.

WESTFIELD, Pa. — Athens posted its first win of the season Thursday, sweeping past Cowanesque Valley in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Wildcats won by scores of 25-20, 25-16, and 25-15.

“We played a good game tonight. The girls looked good,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson.

“We’re still a little quiet, but we will get there,” added Hanson.

Taylor Walker led Athens with seven service points, including five aces, three kills, one block, and three digs, while Kassie Babcock had six points, including five aces, two kills, and three digs, Jenny Ryan had four points, six kills, one block, 18 setter assists, and seven digs, and Ally Martin had two points, three digs, and a team-high 13 digs.

Audrey Clare registered a team-high nine kills and had two digs in the win, while Braelynn Wood and Ella Coyle each added two points and two digs, and Cassie Friend chipped in with three kills.

“I saw some really great plays and some nice kills by Audrey Clare,” said Hanson. “She is hitting it hard.”

Athens, now 1-2, hosts Sayre Tuesday.

ATHENS — Canton fought off Athens in the first set on its way to a sweep here Tuesday night in NTL volleyball action.