MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Pleasant came in looking to stay in the hunt for the league title. Galion made the trip seeking to regain its confidence.

In the end the Lady Spartans swept the Lady Tigers, 25-16, 25-18, 25-13, in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference volleyball match Tuesday night.

“What we’ve done in the last eight or nine games is to learn to trust each other and trust our instincts in the game,” said Pleasant head coach Kory Ute.

“We felt like the last time we played Galion we didn’t play our best. We wanted to prove we could play better because that was by far the worst game we’ve had this year.”

Galion won that match, 3-1.

The Lady Spartans (18-2, 7-2) entered the game in a three-way tie with Highland and Shelby atop the MOAC. Galion (10-8, 7-5) was two games back in second place.

Pleasant started quickly, building a 10-4 lead on its way to a first set win, thanks to sophomore Kamryn Cocherl’s pair of kills. Galion rallied to cut it to 20-12 before falling.

Lady Tigers head coach Katie Davis said her team has struggled in a few areas.

“We work hard in practice and make adjustments when it comes to game time. We struggle in that middle defense. We just have to keep working hard,” she said.

“We’re trying to get over our hump and make sure we are being mentally tough. Right now, it’s a bit of a change. When you walk into games last year we had a little bit more confidence, and this year we’re struggling a little bit with that part.”

There was no lack of confidence on the part of Pleasant, turning a close 12-9 second set into an eight-point victory.

“Galion always comes with a good game plan and are efficient. We had to overcome that, and they took care of our big hitters very well,” Ute said.

“Kam has had a great season numbers-wise. But what she brings to the court is so much experience with the club assignment she gets. She walks on and you’d never know that she’s a sophomore. She plays like a senior. Last year she came in and played like a junior. She’s very quiet and unassuming and has no idea how good she really is. (Senior) Kenzley (Davis) has really come through this year.”

Cocherl had 25 kills and 16 points. Syd Smith finished with 42 assists, Kam Roberts 13 points and 15 digs.

Madi Pendleton added 11 points and 15 digs and Brooklin Davis registered 9 kills.

“Kam out of that middle is always tough to block. And they’ve got Lex, who hits on both sides, and she can hit a very good cross shot. We just have to move our block where we need to,” Davis said.

Several times Galion rallied, but the Lady Spartans turned back the challenge.

“That’s definitely one of our strong points. If we give them too many points, we’re very strong at fighting back. It’s a process of us not digging a hole at the beginning.”

Jillian Capretta, Cameron Eckert, and Audrey Glew led Galion’s effort.

The Lady Tigers have a busy schedule, starting with River Valley on Thursday, followed by non-league games against Clyde on Saturday and Oregon Clay on Monday before hosting Marion Harding Oct. 8.

“We’ve got a lot of games in a very short time which means we have to be mentally tough in preparing for them,” Davis said.

The Lady Spartans visit Harding on Thursday.

“It’s been an amazing run, and I don’t want it to end. It’s to the point where they’re playing smooth every game. The kids are embracing it, not in a nervous way,” Ute said.

“We were disappointed where we finished last year by a game and ended up in fifth place. They were frustrated by it, and they want to get it back. This particular group of seniors (Davis, Smith and Madi Pendleton), not only are they great leaders, but they are students of the game and a very cohesive unit.”

Pleasant took the junior varsity match 25-5, 25-10.