WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Even on a night when the Mount Greylock volleyball team did not have its "A" game, the Mounties were a tough out.
Celina Savage had 11 kills Tuesday to lead top-seeded Mount Greylock to a three-set win over Douglas in the Division 5 State Tournament's Round of 16.
Jackie Brannan and Talia Kapiloff each had four aces in the 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 win.
The Mounties, who went to the state title game a year ago, play their final home match of the season on Friday in the state quarter-finals against either No. 8 Easthampton or No. 24 St. John Paul II, who play on Wednesday evening.
Although Mount Greylock was never in any danger on Tuesday, Douglas was able to hang around deep into each set, in part because the Mounties' high-powered offense failed to find its rhythm much of the night.
"Our hitting efficiency was not there today," Mount Greylock coach Greg Geyer said. "And we'll be talking through that. One game doesn't decide anything. You don't know why. Today, they had the day off [from school], so who knows.
"We've been incredibly efficient with our offense, and that's a big part of our game. So today, we weren't as efficient. ... I think when we hit out of bounds the amount we did, we're overswinging. That's overswinging."
The first set saw the Mounties build just an 18-15 lead, when a kill from Julia DeChaine {seven kills) gave her team a side out.
Brannan then served five straight points to open up a lead. DeChaine had another kill in the run, and Sweren put away a point with a tip at the net.
The second set was more comfortable for the Mounties. Runs on the serves of Kelsey MacHaffie and Sweren established an early 8-2 lead, and Savage served six straight points, including an ace, to push the margin to 10 points at 16-6.
The two teams were neck and neck in the early stages of set No. 3.
Douglas' Taylor Smith served two points to give her team a 9-6 lead before the Mounties got a side out and put the ball in Brannan's hands.
She served the next five points, including two of her aces and another DeChaine kill, to give Mount Greylock a 12-9 lead it never surrendered.
DeChaine and MacHaffie contributed three-point runs to push the margin to nine points before the Mounties cruised to the 25-18 match-clinching win.
"Julia [DeChaine] has been stepping up over and over again," Geyer said. "She stepped up in our last match as well. When we need her, she brings it on, and she's making smart shots. Her serve's always really consistent. Great defense. She's a big part of the team."
