The Garden Spot girls' volleyball team came up against the ferocious Elizabethtown Bears, led by Sydney Stewart and Paige Horst on Tuesday, September 28. The Bears claimed this Section Two match and remained unbeaten in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Garden Spot fell to 4-3 in league play and 5-4 overall.

The Bears won 3-0, by scores of 25-10, 25-9 and 25-14. Stewart had 14 kills while Horst finished with four aces and seven digs.

In another contest between Section Two volleyball rivals, the Garden Spot girls' squad was not able to catch Manheim Central in an away match on Thursday, September 23. The Barons topped the Spartans 3-0, winning the first and third sets 25-11.

In the second set, however, the Spartans closed in on the Barons yet fell short 25-21.

The Spartans bounced back from that setback, dug in, and fought for a non-league victory at Palmyra on Monday, September 27. The Cougars fell behind 2-0 but battled back to even the match at 2-2. They took the third set 25-20 and refused to go down easily in the fourth set, finally winning 26-24.

The Spartans took the fifth and final set 15-11.

In the opening set, Garden Spot eked out a 25-22 victory and managed to hold on for a 25-23 triumph in the second set.

Julia Ellsworth who registered a match-high eight blocks, and Valerie Martin both came through with 12 kills. Jada Dickson served up six aces while Lucy Stern led the team in digs (25). Kayla Kauffman distributed 35 assists to guide the team through a tight match.

GIRLS' SOCCER

Garden Spot faced Manheim Central in a Section Two girls' soccer match on Monday afternoon, September 27. The Barons capitalized on their opportunities, winning the match 7-0.

"We passed the ball around really well and I think we out-possessed them in the second half," head coach Kyle Smith stated. "We just couldn't connect on anything in the final third - to put the ball in the back of the net.

"It has been the same story all year - passing through to the forwards but not being able to finish," added the coach.

Asked if shifting personnel has been attempted, Smith replied, "We've switched a couple of players throughout, trying to keep things different and the other team guessing, also getting a boost in the middle of the game."

Smith explained about out possessing the Barons in the second half.

"They were playing long ball because they had speed up top. But we were winning the ball off those and passing the ball up the field."

FOOTBALL

In the Spartans' previous outing, their defense was stung by the "big play" three times as the Cocalico Eagles scored on touchdown runs of 63, 70 and 80 yards in a 31-20 victory, September 17.

On Friday, September 24, the defense avoided not only the big plays, but any scoring plays at all in a 56-0 shutout of Pequea Valley. In fact, the defense put the Spartans (1-4) on the board first as Cullen Witmer recovered a fumble in the Braves' endzone in the first quarter.

The defense allowed only 77 total yards - less than 20 in the first half.

Rushing touchdowns came from Joel Martin, Kye Harting, Tyler Gillenwater, Gavin Miller, Jadon Burkholder, and Reuben Campbell. Walker Martin was perfect on all eight of his PAT kicks.

BOYS' SOCCER

Extending its winning streak to four games, the boys' soccer team improved its mark to 5-5-0 on the year, shutting out Section Two rival Manheim Central on Monday, September 27. The 2-0 victory helped Garden Spot even its L-L League record at 3-3-0.

Keegan Redcays' goal seven minutes into the second half broke the scoreless deadlock. Jace Weaver provided the assist. The score remained 1-0 for 30 minutes. With only 3:00 to play in regulation, Luke Steiner doubled the lead on an unassisted goal.

The Spartans out-shot the Barons 11-6.

In a non-league Friday afternoon home game three days prior, the Spartans scored three times in the second half to nail down a victory over Twin Valley.

Jack Bruggeman scored the equalizer for the Spartans with less than two minutes remaining in the first half.

Almost as if a mirror image of Garden Spot's first goal, the team's second score (George Rohrbaugh) came two minutes after intermission. Steiner scored at the 54-minute mark and Dylan Nolt put the finishing touches on the 4-1 victory. Rohrbaugh and Weaver each finished with an assist.

FIELD HOCKEY

The important thing for Garden Spot's field hockey team right now is to keep winning.

The Spartans are tied for first with Annville-Cleona atop Section Three (5-1 each). On Friday, September 24, they recorded a 3-1 win at Lebanon as the Spartans out-shot the Cedars 11-5.

Lauren Horning scored a first-period goal. Horning and Sara Hoffman both scored in the third quarter while in goal Bryna Kelly made five saves.

The Spartans' 2-0 defeat of Elco on Tuesday, September 28, raised their overall mark to 8-2-0 overall.

TENNIS

In a Section Two match at Lebanon on Friday, September 24, the Spartans posted a 5-2 victory, improving their overall mark to 4-7 and their league record to 2-4.

Erika Chernovsky and Natalie Wirta were both involved in some intense matches. In the first doubles match, they outlasted Ivy Terrero and Cat Cruz 8-5. At number one singles, Chernovtsy came up short against Terrero in a 7-5 set before Terrero claimed a team point for the Cedars, winning 6-2.

At number two singles, Wirta came back from a 6-2 loss to Cruz, winning 6-0 and 11-9.

Maggie Martin and Meredith Horst won the second doubles 8-1 while Bella Robbins and Duval were 8-3 winners at number two doubles.

Garden Spot also took the fourth singles with Horst winning in 6-0, 6-0 straight sets. Martin was in another epic battle until finally giving way at number three singles. Iris Krous won 7-5, 6-7 (5-7) and 10-7.

Following a 7-0 loss to league rival Manheim Central, which registered its 11th win of the year, the Spartans faced McCaskey the following afternoon at home.

In the non-league match, the Red Tornado took the number two doubles along with two singles matches for a 3-2 victory. Horst won the number three singles 6-2, 2-6, 10-6. Martin and Nicole Zeiset won the first doubles 6-2, 6-2 while Leah Moua and Roxanne Avril were on the losing end of a solid second doubles, 2-6, 7-6, 10-5.

Chernovsky came up short at first singles, 3-6, 3-6.