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HANOVERTON -- Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference powers United and Columbiana put on a classic five-set volleyball marathon in the Eagles' gym Tuesday night, and when it was over it was the Golden Eagles who walked out with a clutch 3-2 triumph.
With the win, the Golden Eagles are now 13-3 overall and 9-1 in the EOAC, while Columbiana is now 15-1 overall and 10-1 in league action.
"It's the best thing ever," said United's Maelee Smith, who had a tremendous game with 17 kills. "I'm crying and they're tears of joy. I'm so happy for my team. It's just the best feeling."
"I kept telling them (his team) that the pressure is on them (the Clippers) from the time they walked in here," said veteran United head coach Troy Brunner whose Golden Eagles rallied from a two-set deficit to win three pressure-packed sets.
"We knew they (the Golden Eagles) were going to come out and play tough," said Columbiana head coach Jennifer Martin. "Especially that first set, their first couple points, I don't think they made any mistakes."
United's stat leaders included Smith (17 kills), Kendall Erb (nine kills), Lily Erb (10 kills, 14 digs), Chloe Angelo (seven kills), Rileah Phillips (four aces, 19 digs, 40 assists), Brittany Miller (three aces) and Bailey Smith (23 digs),.
Leading Columbiana were Landry Smith (20 kills, two blocks, one ace, four digs), Eva Waller (57 assists, 12 points, 14 digs), Addison Dargler (18 kills), Keagan Pruitt (seven kills, nine points, five digs), Ava Marks (10 kills, five points, 17 digs), Annabelle Church (nine kills, eight points, 12 digs), Keegan Reynolds (20 digs), Bailey Schmidt (five points, 10 assists, seven digs), Riley Fisk (four kills, 14 digs) and Sylvia Rapp (seven digs, five kills), Hailee Gomoll (10 digs) and Kaydynce Hamner (six kills).
United jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead in the first set and had all the momentum. But Columbiana caught the Golden Eagles at 19-19, 20-20 and 24-24 and came back to win it 26-24 when a United return sailed out of bounds.
With momentum on its side, the Clippers went out to a 10-5 lead to open the second set. But United came back to pull within three points at 22-19. However, Columbiana outscored the Eagles 3-2 with Dargler recording the winning kill to post a 25-22 win.
Collumbiana looked like it would roll in the third set as the Clippers took as much as a nine-point (22-13) lead but United impressively stormed back to tie things at 24-24 and won 30-28.
With new-found momentum, United dominated the fourth set, jumping out to as much as a 19-11 lead and held off the Clippers to win the set 25-18.
In the deciding fifth set, Columbiana took a 12-9 lead but United passed the Clippers on a kill by Smith to take a 13-12 advantage and the Golden Eagles outscored Columbiana 2-1 as Smith returned a shot into an open area for the winning point and the hosts celebrated a 15-13 win.
"We just kept uplifting each other," said Smith. "We made sure everybody's head was up and made sure everybody on the team was together, and when that happens, amazing things come together and we pulled through and won."
"We got into those late sets and I kept saying, they're feeling the pressure, we just have to keep playing and that's what we did and I'm so proud of them," explained Brunner.
"I just thought both teams played a great match, they (the Golden Eagles) did a really good job of stepping up in their home gym," said Martin. "We're real proud of our girls for beating Girard on Monday, that was a big win for us because they took us in the last two tournament matches."
United will host Salem in an independent match on Monday.
Columbiana will host East Palestine in its final; EOAC match of the season next Tuesday.
"We have one league match left with Palestine on Tuesday," said Martin.
"We still play Lisbon and East Palestine," said Brunner. "We've still got work to do."
United won the junior varsity match, 2-1.