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TIOGA – In the regular season Towanda swept North Penn-Liberty. But it was the Lady Mounties who came up with the sweep in the District IV Class AA finals as they knocked off top-seeded Towanda 3-0 at Williamson High School on Thursday, November 3.

“We were ready. We were prepared,” North Penn-Liberty head coach Holli Smith said. “We watched film from Tuesday night and we did everything we could do to make our offense and defense ready.”

Both teams were evenly matched to start the first set. With the score tied early at 7-7, North Penn-Liberty rattled off three straight points then increased their lead to 13-8 after three straight kills by Lauren Smith. Liberty eventually pulled away for a 20-12 lead, before Towanda battled back to trail 22-18. The Lady Mounties closed out the first set with back-to-back-to-back points for the 25-18 win.

The second set was when the Lady Mounties really heated up and built off the momentum they gain from the first set. The Mounties dominated the second set, pulling ahead by as much as 14-4 and eventually won the set 25-12.

“The momentum was huge,” Smith said. “We cheered the entire time and I think it really helped us. The Liberty players know how special the win was and how hard they worked for it.”

Towanda fought hard in the third set to extend the game. Both teams volleyed points to begin the set, and the Lady Black Knights eventually found themselves up 11-8, their biggest lead of the night, before Liberty outscored them 7-2 to go back up 15-13. Towanda then rallied for four straight points to retake the lead at 17-15.

That would be Towanda’s final lead, however. The Lady Mounties went on a 10-1 run to close out set, and the match, for a 3-0 sweep.

“I told the girls ‘It’s now or never’,” Coach Smith said once Towanda drained some of the Mounties momentum in the third set. “They wanted it bad enough and did what they had to do.”

“It feels great, feels good to get a team win,” Smith continued.

“We have come so far and it’s definitely paid off all the work we put in,” Kaya Weeks said.

“It feels great to be able to win with my teammates,” JoAnne McNamara said.

McNamara led the Lady Mounties with 15 assists, Smith finished with 11 kills, 14 digs, and three aces, and Weeks had eight digs and two aces. Elli Fry had three blocks and five kills. Brooke Harvey had 10 kills and 11 digs, McKenna Grega had 11 digs, and Maddison Minyo had five kills.

Next up for North Penn-Liberty is District II champion Holy Redeemer on Tuesday, November 8 at 5:00 p.m. at Pittston in the first round of PIAA playoffs.