Electric was the only word that Kierra Esh could think of to describe the atmosphere inside the Garden Spot gymnasium.
“We were all excited and we all stuck to the game plan,” Esh said. “We came in really wanting to win.”
Esh and the Spartans did just that in a gutsy 3-0 sweep Tuesday night against Cocalico in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two match at New Holland.
The match was tight and felt like it could go either team’s way, with the first two sets finishing at 26-24. The third set was 25-20.
Garden Spot’s effort was gritty. It was courageous. The Spartans didn’t give up on any point and didn’t take any point for granted. They worked together as a cohesive unit, a trademark of Spartans.
“I think we did awesome,” said Garden Spot coach Meghan Gehr. “The girls had a game plan going in, and they stuck to it, and it worked. So, I’m very proud of what they did.”
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Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Mady Ly (17) with the dig against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Camryn Waltman (18) stuffs the ball back over the net against Cocalico’s Arabella Keylor (8) during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Jolee Waltman (2) and McKenna Murray (21) with the block against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Jaclyn Niven (27) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Jaclyn Niven (27) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Sydney Ringler (34) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Ayiesha Witmer (10) with the dig against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Brianna Zimmerman (11) and her teammates celebrate after beating Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Kiera Esh (12) with the dig against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Mady Ly (17) with the dig against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Camryn Waltman (18) stuffs the ball back over the net against Cocalico’s Arabella Keylor (8) during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Jolee Waltman (2) and McKenna Murray (21) with the block against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Jaclyn Niven (27) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Jaclyn Niven (27) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Sydney Ringler (34) with the hit against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Cocalico’s Ayiesha Witmer (10) with the dig against Garden Spot during game one action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Alayna Horst (13) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Brianna Zimmerman (11) and her teammates celebrate after beating Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s McKenna Murry (21) with the hit against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot’s Kiera Esh (12) with the dig against Cocalico during game two action of an L-L League section two girls volleyball match at Garden Spot High School on Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025.
Garden Spot (5-1 L-L, 6-2) is a team that graduated a ton of seniors from a season ago and have just three on this year’s roster.
Esh, one of those three, has made it her duty to help guide a young squad.
“We’re really trying to set up and help the underclassman find themselves in the team,” Esh said. “So, when we leave, they’re able to step up and take that role.”
Garden Spot’s youth shined bright in Tuesday night’s win, with sophomore Brianna Zimmerman registering a match-high 32 assists.
“We’re figuring out our identity,” said Gehr. “We took a tough loss in the beginning that we wish we could get back, and I think that kind of helped set the stage. We have people stepping up, so we’re doing really good things and headed in the right direction.”
Hailey Zimmerman had 22 digs for the Spartans, while Alayna Horst registered 17 kills. Mady Ly had three aces and McKenna Murray led Garden Spot with two blocks.
The Eagles, who opened 6-0 and only lost three sets all season until Tuesday, pointed to their on-court communication as the biggest reason for their hot start.
On Tuesday, Cocalico (4-1, 6-1) didn’t show that awareness and made uncharacteristic errors, ultimately leading to its first loss.
“Tonight, I think we lacked communication,” said Eagles coach Jamie Lesher. “We typically are big communicators on and off the court.”
The Eagles fought back with four straight points to tie the first set but were unable to earn the set victory. Inversely, Cocalico built a solid lead in the second set until a late charge from Garden Spot snatched it away.
“I feel like we came out timid and not mentally ready to be matched up like we were,” Lesher said. “We knew it was going to be a tough match.”
Junior Arabella Keylor had a strong night for the Eagles, leading in digs (12) and assists (15). Senior Jaclyn Niven led Cocalico with nine kills and three blocks, while Toni Campman had three aces.
The much-anticipated rematch between these two squads also doubles as the last regular season match on Oct. 9 at Cocalico.
The Eagles will look to bounce back when they host Section Two opponent, Elco (4-1, 8-1), on Thursday.
Interview with Cocalico’s Abigail Lesher at L-L Girls Volleyball Media Day
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