In the midst of an 2-0 deficit, Straughn came back to win victory in the 3A Area 3 volleyball tournament victory with a gruelling 3-2 victory against Opp at home on Thursday night.
A top seeded Lady Tigers improved their season record to 24-9, with a 23-25, 17-25 and 25-20 winning streak of 25-18, 15-11, and 25-18. Second-seed Lady Bobcats fell to 21-8 overall and came in as the area runner-up.
“I informed the girls that Opp were gaining the momentum following their win in a major game. We played our volleyball warm-ups, and I told them that they must start strong to gain momentum. We weren’t going to give up when we were two points down and I said that I’m not sure what to tell you since we’ve had a wonderful week of playing. We were unable to score points due to small items, and your heart is bound to take this game. Opp called timeout during the third set. I assured them that they were in the right place and poised to win three sets which they won. I’m happy for the team for never giving up and I’m looking forward to play Montgomery. We’ll need to perform the same way as we did in the previous three sets tonight,” SHS Head Coach Deidra Burleson stated.
SET ONE
Blakeley Smith as well as Amaya Womack each scored two kills, as Opp gained an early lead of 4-2. Audrey Lindsey cut the deficit to 7-5 by slaying after an ace from Megan Pinson and a kill by Cuba Wiggins extended the lead to 11-5. Claire Howe delivered an ace as well, and Ora Hall tied the score with an ace. Smith offered Straughn a lead of 15-14 before back-toback kills from Howe led to 19-17. It was 19-17 when the Lady Bobcats forced a 20-20 tie, and then took an advantage of 24-22 after the block of Wiggins. Smith took his Lady Tigers within one at 24-22 However, Wiggins completed the frame with a kill to take an unbeatable lead of 1-0.
SET TWO
Emily Nelson scored an ace as did Emily Nelson, as did Hall was able to add a kill to give the 3-1 advantage. Carnley Johnson trimmed the gap to 3-2 by scoring a kill, as both teams played to four tie-breaks. Kyleigh Jackson brought the score to 8-8. However, Brooke Butler used an ace to made her Lady Bobcats ahead 12-8. Wiggins also added two kills to take an 18-11 advantage before Ada Blackstock followed suit for an impressive 22-15 advantage. Wiggins concluded the second set similarly to the first set and forced players like the Lady Tigers into a 2-0 gap.
SET THREE
Wiggins got a block to give her an 2-0 lead at the end of set three before Jackson reduced the deficit to half by committing the kill. Straughn was able to draw even at 4-4, thanks to two kills from Mallory Hall. Braleigh Nall opened up Opp an early lead of 5-4 however, Howe killed two of them and then shifted the momentum back the opposite direction to give Opp a lead of 12-8. A kill from M. Hall followed by an Ace from Nelson led to an advantage of 17-11. Two kills from Wiggins along with a block by Womack brought players and Lady Bobcats within two at 17-15. O. Hall increased the lead to 21-18 after a kill in addition, M. Hall had a massive block to give the team a 24-19 advantage while players from the Lady Tigers held on and reduce the scoring to 1-1.
SET FOUR
Lindsey did a block to give her a 3-1 advantage at the end of set four, but Wiggins reduced the gap to 5-2 after the kill. Howe also had an assist as Straughn gained an 8-2 advantage. Womack played an assist with a block, and assisted Opp to get within a point at 10-9. Two kills and a ace from Howe The margin grew to 14-9, and an ace from Pinson reduced the deficit to 14-11. M. Hall used an Ace to score an 18-13 advantage prior to it was the time that Lady Bobcats crept closer at 18-16. O. Hall hit a kill to take a lead of 22-17. three consecutive kills from Howe permitted Straughn to tie the game at 2-3.
SET FIVE
Smith and O. Hall were able to kill in the first few minutes of the fifth set that was a winner-take-all and attack mistakes caused O. Hall and Smith Lady Bobcats a 6-2 lead. After a timeout, Blackstock was able to kill for 7-4 lead. Smith made it 8-8 after a kill, before Howe scored three consecutive aces, giving Blackstock the Lady Tigers an 11-8 lead. A kill from Smith and a block by M. Hall took the score to 13-9. Smith and Hall both scored blocks. Lady Bobcats called timeout but couldn’t get any closer. Howe made it 3-2 with a game-winning kill in the area.
Straughn reached the championship by winning 3-0 against Pike County 3-0 (25-8, 25-14 and 25-11) in the semi-finals of the tournament. Opp beat new Brockton 3-1 (25-23 24, 26, 25-13 26-24).
Both teams will advance into the South Super Regional at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex in Montgomery starting on Wednesday, October. 25. It’s a battle for the Lady Bobcats. Lady Bobcats face area 1 champion Mobile Christian (37-8) at 9 a.m. on court 2. On court 2, the Lady Tigers meet area 1 runners-up St. Luke’s (24-21) at 10:15 a.m. on court 1.
The article Straughn fights for region title against Opp with five sets of classic was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
