Eagles head coach Dave Burgstahler called a timeout to get the girls back into rhythm after a 5-0 run by the Cardinals. The timeout paid off as the Eagles went on their longest run of the set scoring seven points in a row to take the lead and an eventual 25-22 victory to win the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association East Division matchup 3-1 at Randolph High School.

North Collins trailed in the back half of every set it won, really showing off that clutch gene in the 3-1 win by scores of 25-22, 29-27, 20-25, 25-22.

“There was a clutch factor there,” Burgstahler said about his team. “I was proud of them for pushing through that and openness to try a different position, play wherever you’re needed and the girls are great with that.”

In the first set, North Collins trailed 18-13 then a seven-point run pushed the Eagles victory. In the second set, Randolph had the chance to close out the set three times, but North Collins managed to hold on and get a three-point run to win 29-27.

Randolph’s Mya Abrams passes the ball during Monday’s CCAA East Division girls volleyball match against North Collins at Randolph Central School. Photo by Mike Frame

“We’re a very young team,” said Randolph head coach Bayley Johnson. “I have a few freshmen and sophomores on my team and I think over time and more experience they’ll finish those sets and keep those rallies going.”

In the third set neither team was able to score on a run greater than four points and that played out to Randolph’s benefit as it won 25-20.

For much of the match the Cardinals stayed with the undefeated Eagles and made it look like North Collins would be going home with its first loss of the year.

“Randolph is a scrappy team,” Burgstahler said about being able to rally against Randolph.

“We work on that in practice, that back and forth, continuing the play whatever the call is and it worked to our benefit today,” Burgstahler added.

The Eagles were led by the trio of Michaela Rice with 14 kills, McKenna Rice with 12 kills and Mackenzie Jaworski with nine kills. Cate Ayers was the kill feeder with 24 assists on the night for North Collins.

“They’re a great team, the three outside hitters that do a really nice job,” said Johnson. “They’re all over the floor and defend really well.”

Standing out for Randolph was sophomore Eve Adams who had a whopping 22 kills, nine digs and five aces. Mya Abrams contributed 27 assists, 12 service points and eight aces while Avery Morrison added 10 digs and two aces in the effort for the Cardinals.

“Eve Adams is a great player, they give her the ball a lot,” said Burgstahler. “She hits well, she passes well. She is a good player and we knew that coming in and we tried to stop her but she’s still getting kills out there.”

North Collins stays unbeaten with the victory at 4-0 and will play fellow undefeated East Division team Gowanda on Wednesday. Randolph drops to 3-2 in division play and is 4-3 overall.