Chargers burn out Dragons

Orion cruised to a 25-14, 25-10 victory over Aledo in varsity volleyball on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Coach Jack Wheeler’s Chargers improved to 6-1 with the victory over their former Olympic Conference rivals.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, Orion finished third at the Wethersfield tournament in Kewanee. With a 4-1 record for the day, the Chargers ended the week at 10-2.

In the Aledo match, the Orion girls served eight aces. Alyssa Ellison landed four; Megan Blumenshein, three; and Tori Matzen, one.

The Chargers piled up 19 kills, six by Matzen, five by Ellison, four by Blumenshein and one each by Jenna Nelson, Janel Cross, Maddie DePorter and Ellen Garrity.

Orion’s 12 assists were divided among Sami Mitton, five; Kelly Hutton, four; DePorter, two; and Cross, one.

Matzen tallied four blocks; Cross, two; and Blumenshein and DePorter, one apiece.

The Charger defense went to the floor for 20 digs. Nelson, Ellison, Carine Christal, McKenzie Bert and Hutton had three each; Mitton, two; and Matzen, Katie LaBelle and Garrity, one apiece.

In pool play on Saturday, Orion defeated Kewanee 21-11, 21-8; Alleman, 21-18, 21-8; and Brimfield, 21-15, 19-21, 15-5.

Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central edged Orion 21-19, 15-21, 15-13 in semifinals.

Playing for third place, the Chargers once again defeated the Alleman Pioneers 21-14, 21-19.

For the day, Orion delivered 48 aces. Matzen and Hutton had 10 each; Blumenshein, nine; Ellison, eight; Mitton, seven; and Nelson, four.

The Chargers racked up 110 kills. Matzen paced the team with 33 kills, while DePorter had 18; Cross, 16; Blumenshein, 15; Ellison, 13; Garrity, seven; Hutton, four; Mitton, three; and Nelson, one.

Of Orion’s 88 assists, 45 were credited to Mitton, 29 to Hutton, four to DePorter, two to Blumenshein and one each to Matzen, Ellison and Christal.

Matzen notched 12 blocks; Cross, seven; Blumenshein and DePorter, four each; Ellison, two; and Nelson, one.

The Chargers came up with 150 digs. Ellison made 36 of them; Christal, 28; Mitton, 20; Matzen, 17; Nelson, 15; Hutton, eight; Blumenshein, DePorter and Garrity, seven apiece; and Cross, five.