For The Dialog
BRANDYWINE HUNDRED – It took four sets, but Padua advanced to the state volleyball quarterfinals once again with a 3-1 win over Tatnall Saturday evening at Brandywine High School.
The No. 2 Pandas and the 18th-seeded Hornets were tied at nine in the first set before an Emma Lucey kill started a six-point run. Lauren Mellor added a kill and an ace to end the streak, and the Pandas rolled the rest of the set behind Mellor and Emily Jarome, who had a thunderous kill and ace to give the Pandas the 25-15 win.
Padua jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second behind a couple of kills by Jarome and Lucey. The Pandas kept up the pressure, and a Mellor kill gave them a 17-7 lead. Ella Welsh finished the set with a kill for the 25-15 win.
The third set was back and forth until three kills by Hornets sophomore Julianna Campbell gave Tatnall a 24-19 advantage. Padua fought off four set points, but a Leslie Butler kill preserved a 25-23 Tatnall win.
Meghan Barnett got the momentum back for Padua with two early aces in set four, them Mellor and Jarome went to work to extend the lead to 20-12. Taylor Valletti’s kill ended the match at 25-13.
The Pandas (12-4) advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will play St. Mark’s on Tuesday night at the St. E Center at a time to be announced.
