Kennedy Crider leads Reagan volleyball over Brandeis to open District 27-6A

Led by hard-hitting Kennedy Crider and a solid front line, Reagan opened District 27-6A action by beating Brandeis in straight sets 25-22, 25-18, 25-11 Tuesday at Northside Sports Gym.

Crider, a senior outside hitter, led Reagan with 13 kills and added three aces as the Rattlers (19-10, 1-0) started their defense of the district crown on a positive note.

Freshman Macy Glass notched 12 kills and junior Reese Carver had seven to aid the Reagan attack.

The Rattlers fended off the Brandeis Broncos (18-12, 0-1) in a tight first set, 25-22, before taking the last two sets by comfortable margins.

"I think normally teams can get scared during the first set or they can settle after we do good after the first set, and we weren't satisfied for just one, we wanted all three (sets)," Crider said. "We wanted to show who we were. We came back up for what's on our chests, Reagan Rattlers, and like for each other. I think just not being satisfied with that one win and not being scared that it was close, we know what we have on our side of the court." Reagan coach Rachel Torvik said her squad prevailed over Brandeis because it stuck to the game plan.

"I think any district opening game is always just a true test of just focus and the fight that the kids have, and I think we finished really, really well tonight," Torvik said. "So, when we had a game plan, the kids listened to what we needed to do and they executed what I asked them to do, and I think we were pretty seamless tonight. I think there were moments of hiccups, but it wasn't because of a lack of effort on the kids' part."

Crider opened the match by serving the first two points for Reagan, including an ace, and proceeded to show her power at the net with four kills in the first set. The Rattlers were up 15-9 at one point before the Broncos, led by junior Allison Rodgers, went on a 12-5 run to tighten the match to get within 21-20 before Reagan closed out the set at 25-22, punctuated by two kills from Crider.

Reagan raced out to an 11-4 advantage in the second set and held the margin at five to six points the rest of the frame, before three consecutive kills from Mackenzie Chastain-Hunter, Carver and Crider closed out the set for the Rattlers at 25-17.

Sparked by an 11-2 run, Reagan again ran away from Brandeis in the final set as Carver and Crider each had five kills in the frame. Crider also notched another ace as the Rattlers cruised to close out the match, taking the set 25-11.

"(Crider) did a great job on the pin (outside), but I think that's also a tribute to just the balanced offense that we've been able to run this year," Torvik said. "Because both of our right sides (hitters) hit over .300 as well. Our middles are working hard in transition, and they may not get the ball a lot, but when they're up, they're effective and I think we're just doing a really good job of distributing the ball and keeping teams guessing as far as who's going to be receiving it."

Rodgers led Brandeis with 11 kills, followed by Rachel Markell with six, Olivia Munoz and Caliyah Lamkin with five apiece and Addison Wells with four.

Reagan continues district play against Churchill at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Blossom Athletic Center, while Brandeis has a week of rest before resuming its district slate with Churchill next Tuesday.