Photo By Photos by Lisa ScalfaroKR Alli Cudworth and Crestwood Morgan Strenk

By ERIC CLUTTER | CORRESPONDENT

They were pushed to the limit, but the Kent Roosevelt girls volleyball team successfully defended it Portage Trail Conference Metro Division title Tuesday night.

Led by junior Alli Cudworth, who dominated at the net for staggering 48 kills, the Rough Riders broke away from a 5-5 tie in the fifth-game tie-breaker to record a 23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8 hard-fought win over visiting Crestwood.

“The kids just dug in really deep and they played really well. Our seniors really stepped up in the back row,” said Roosevelt head coach Kasey Adelman. “And the youngsters came in at block and really helped out our back row. Our outside hitters did phenomenal. Alli Cudworth and Taylor Pensyl, Alli was hitting the ball really well, and Taylor was putting the ball in amazing places.”

Crestwood (15-5, 10-3) seemed to have the momentum after it pulled out a three-point win in game four to force a fifth game.

However, Cudworth recorded a pair of winners to break the 5-all deadlock and give the Rough Riders (16-4, 12-1 Metro) the lead for good.

“It’s exciting to see the gym packed and how far the program has come,” said an emotional Adelman. “It’s amazing for the seniors to go out with two in a row.”

The Red Devils came out strong to open the match, establishing a quick four-point lead en route to a first-game win.

But Roosevelt bounced back to take the next two games only to have Crestwood answer back.

“I think our girls worked hard,” said Crestwood head coach Wanda Hoffman. “We just needed to keep them on defense a little bit stronger. And there were a couple of unforced errors that hurt us. We had the momentum at the beginning (of the match). We needed to keep it and we didn’t. Not taking anything away from Kent. They are a nice team. Our kids are awesome. I’m proud of them.”

Adelman was confident her squad would rally after the Red Devils had fought back.

“The girls have so much drive and fight in them,” she said. “We knew we had another game left. But Crestwood is a great team. They played really, really well and they are a well-coached team.”