Mainland holds off Seabreeze to win crosstown rival match

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

The Lady Bucs cruised to two straight sets but had to fight off the Lady Sandcrabs to win 25-16, 25-19, 23-25 and 25-23 on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Mainland.

What looked to be a potential sweep turned into what seemed was an inevitable fifth set. After the first two sets, Seabreeze came alive and battled to win the third, and their momentum poured into the fourth set, where they led for the majority. Unfortunately, when each team had 20 points, the rookie referee made a questionable call, where the Sandcrabs felt they should have won the point and took control of the serve, but the point was awarded to Mainland, who won the last five of eight points of the match.

“We played really well,” coach Tarisa Craig-Craggy said. “We started off slow in game one and two, but, in those last two sets, it seemed like the momentum shifted. Unfortunately, at the end, we had a call not go our way, and then the game kind of went the other way at that point.”

When asked if she thought the game was going to go to a fifth set, Craig-Craggy replied, “Absolutely.”

“We played our hearts out in the third and fourth (set),” she added. “We were hitting. Everything just started to click, but unfortunately, we didn’t get the call.”

Nevertheless, Mainland won its second consecutive game, after dropping two straight. Jessika Haberle four aces and seven kills, and Kate Litke had 21 digs and six points. Kamari Potter, 12 kills and two blocks; Tori Huffman, 29 assists, 14 digs and 15 points.

“I had confidence in the girls in the third set; I thought we were going to take it in the third,” coach Sandy Garner said. “I was hoping it didn’t go to a fifth because my girls were looking pretty tired in that third set. I’m real proud of the team. We’re doing a good job working together, and I’m happy to see that they’re successful. They’re a good group of girls on and off the court.”

For Seabreeze, Vail Linn had eight kills and 14 digs, and Shannon Stack had 26 assists, nine digs, two blocks and three kills; Olivia Squires, six kills, 18 digs; Lula Harris, 10 kills, 26 digs and five blocks.

Next up for Seabreeze is the Matanzas Lady Pirates at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at Matanzas, and Mainland will play Deltona at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, at Mainland.