8th graders put forth their best, fall short in heartbreaking fashion

The 8th graders played their best game of the year, but it was still not enough for them to get over the hump and pick up win number two, which has been eluding them now for five straight games.

The girls went neck to neck with the opposition in the first set until the other team had one girl who served everything on a line. That led the other team to pull away and eventually win the first set 25-18.

It looked like it was going to be the same in the second set until Kristine stepped up to serve with the 8th grade down 13-8. Kristine then served 10 straight balls over and just like that the 8th grade was in control of the set 18-13. Due to a CYO rule where a girl can't serve more than 10 times, it was an automatic sideout. Yet, the girls still won the next point to extend their lead to 19-13.

Kristine's balls were all on a line and the other team couldn't find an answer for these atom balls. The last girl to serve 10 balls over in a St. Mary's uniform was Emily.

They would trade a few points, and when the score hit 23-18, the pendulum swung the other way. The girls could not return a serve, and they gave up seven straight points and lost the second and deciding set in heartbreaking fashion, 25-23.

The competition in the 8th grade's lowest division aren't playing like they are in the lowest division. Almost every time carries a handful of girls who can overhand serve, and most of the teams have the ability to bump, set and spike. Our girls are still learning how to do that, and were successful on many of those attempts this afternoon.

Alexa, Kristine and Marissa all successfully hit/spiked the ball over the net for points.

Despite losing, this was by far the best match the girls have played up to this point. They play to the level of their competition, which could be a good thing when their playing a formidable opponent, but not so much when the opponent isn't as respectable.

Their serving has also improved as every girl served at least one ball over, and most of the girls served far above .500 on the day.

The girls have two games remaining on their regular season schedule.