Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Winning Streak Still Intact

The battle for first place in Big East Volleyball was a classic and those that were there went home glad they were there to see it. Hunt opened the first game winning the net and Rocky Mount played as if they had lead in their feet. They did more watching others play than joining in on the fun as several balls fell between players expecting the other person to get it.

Hunt serving and winning the net they won the opening game 25-18. Somehow the Lady Gryphons got 18 when it seemed the score was worse than it was. Game two was much the same as the Gryphons found themselves down 18-10. It was this point in the match that the lead the Lady Gryphons had been wearing in their shoes finally wore off and they even took a 24-23 lead. Serving to win the game a ball rolled down the top of the net fell to the floor on the Gryphons side giving Hunt their 24th point and enough momentum to win game two 26-24.

Last season at Rocky Mount, Hunt had won the opening two games only to see the Lady Gryphons charge back and take a match but today was at Hunt and to this point Hunt was playing like a team destined to end the Lady Gryphons 16 games conference regular season winning streak. The only Big East match of any kind that Lady Gryphons have lost was the conference tournament held last year at Hunt and it was Hunt who beat the Lady Gryphons.

Feeling lighter in the feet and knowing they needed to win game three or go home a loser Rocky Mount's more athletic team began to turn the tide. No longer was Hunt winning with kills at the net as now the Lady Gryphons were out jumping Hunt and blitzed the Lady Warriors 25-13.

Game four the Lady Gryphons started well but Hunt caught their second wind and and at 22-21 Rocky Mount the girls in blue and gold scored the last three points to win 25-21.

This set up game five the first to fifteen points and the conference lead on the line. Rocky Mount won the serve but lost the opening point and playing only to fifteen you can't afford to get down by two or three points. The Gryphons managed to lead 8-5 and 12-8 but Hunt had one more rally and was serving to tie the score at 12 but the point fell the Gryphon way. Two points later the Lady Gryphons put a strangle hold on their second straight conference crown winning game five 15-11. They now have a two game lead and three games to play.

There are those days in life where you have to find a will because life just is not going your way today. Tamisha Walker coming off an ankle injury played more and more as the games wore on. Kashunn Seabreeze had a good day serving and had her best day at the net when the Ladies Needed it. Tia Hudgins was money in the bank when the Gryphons needed it the most. Casey Cooke was probably the most consistent player throughout the day. It is a team effort and Sydney Browder , Evie Hunter,Precious White, Lauren Campbell, Emily Jacob and Alexis Threat all made plays to help in the victory.

Hunt is taller and the Lady Gryphons are more athletic and by game three quickness was winning over the power that Hunt had in the first two games. Football has a saying that the game is won in the fourth quarter. The Lady Gryphons found that the fourth quarter today started before game three and lasted what seemed like an enternity. They had to dig deep to beat a fine Lady Warrior team but the fourth quarter belonged to the Lady Gryphons.