Spring Creek middle blocker Heather Alexander, right, and American Leadership Academy’s Addison Shepherd joust for a ball at the net. Shepherd won the point. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Before head coach Chad Kirby walked over to scorer’s table to fill out his lineup sheet for the decisive fifth set Thursday afternoon, he said this to his team:
“This is to 15.”
“You better bring it.”
“Let’s go.”
But Spring Creek’s volleyball team couldn’t seal the deal against American Leadership Academy of Johnston County. The visiting Patriots claimed a come-from-behind 16-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 15-8 victory over the Gators at “The Swamp.”
Kirby admitted his team played well in spurts.
The offense and defense clicked in the first and third sets behind setters Avery Walker and Alaina Pratt. The duo spread out point-scoring opportunities among Heather Alexander, Sarah Hess, Gradie Miteu and Addison Cobb.
Cobb emerged as the team leader with 13 kills and four solo blocks, while Alexander contributed 10 kills and two blocks. Hess collected seven kills. The Gators notched 34 kills and 10 blocks as a team.
“Addison, today, came out of nowhere and was able to hit the ball really well,” Kirby said. “Our offense was running well [especially] in the first and third sets.”
The teams battled through 24 ties and 20 lead changes during the five-set affair.
However, the second, fourth and fifth sets bothered Kirby.
Errors at the service line, unforced miscues in the attack game and miscommunication factored into the outcome of those lost sets. Spring Creek couldn’t overcome 40 unforced errors, including 19 in the last two sets combined.
“When we were pushing the pace and running our offense, it seemed like we had them scrambling,” Kirby said. “[But] we had too many free balls and let them set up their offense. They started hitting the ball very well. That was the biggest difference in the second, fourth and fifth sets.
“That’s where they got us.”
Nine of the Patriots’ 15 aces occurred during their late-match rally.
Bolstered by consistent back-row play, setter Bridget McCord got Amber Roberts and Ella Boush in rhythm on the outside pin. Though blocked a few times by either Cobb, Alexander or Miteu, the duo combined for 14 kills. The Patriots posted 33 kills as a team.
ALA seized an 8-1 lead in set four.
Spring Creek forged an 18-18 deadlock on an unforced error, but watch the visitors respond with a set-clinching, 7-0 run.
Set five resembled set four.
The Patriots, again, raced to an early lead — this time 6-1.
Kirby burned a timeout and encouraged his players to focus on the task at hand. The Gators attempted to chip away at the deficit, but stopped their own momentum with crucial mistakes.
An unforced error and Roberts’ kill capped ALA’s comeback.
“Just right now, we’ve still got a couple of kinks to work out such as floor management,” Kirby said. “Sarah and Heather have got to communicate a little better. They’re [ALA] a pretty decent team. We’ve definitely gotten better.
“But we still have kinks to work out.”
The Gators (3-5 overall) return home Sept. 4 against Southeastern Athletic 8 member Clinton. Currently an independent program, the Patriots (3-3) entertain Hobbton on Sept. 5.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
