The Shelbyville Rams and Clinton Maroons needed all three sets to determine a winner Tuesday night, with Shelbyville ultimately prevailing 25-20, 21-25, 25-13 in a competitive matchup between the two teams. The result is also listed as a 2-1 Shelbyville victory on the Rams’ schedule.
Shelbyville opened the match by taking the first set, 25-20. The five-point margin gave the Rams the early advantage, but Clinton responded rather than allowing Shelbyville to close the night in straight sets.
The Maroons turned the tables in the second set. With their season on a challenging stretch entering the match, Clinton put together the response it needed and earned a 25-21 victory, evening the match at one set apiece and forcing a deciding third frame. Clinton had also gone three sets with Maroa-Forsyth in its previous match, falling 28-26 in the deciding set.
With the match on the line, Shelbyville regained control in the third.
The Rams produced their most decisive set of the night, pulling away for a 25-13 victory to secure the match, 2-1. It was another example of Shelbyville responding after dropping a second set; earlier this season, the Rams followed the same pattern in a three-set victory over Tri-County, winning the opener, dropping the second and answering in the deciding frame.
While individual statistics were not available from Tuesday’s matchup, the set scores tell the story of two teams that each had stretches of success. Shelbyville did enough to claim the opening set, Clinton answered to extend the match, and the Rams responded with their strongest margin of the evening when the match reached its deciding set.
For Clinton, the second-set victory showed the Maroons’ ability to respond after falling behind and gave Shelbyville a challenge before the Rams eventually pulled away. For Shelbyville, the ability to reset after losing the second set proved important in finishing the night with a victory.
FINAL: Shelbyville def. Clinton, 2-1
Set 1: Shelbyville 25, Clinton 20
Set 2: Clinton 25, Shelbyville 21
Set 3: Shelbyville 25, Clinton 13
