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| The 5th/6th graders just fell short in their playoff game Friday night. |
In both sets, the girls went through a stretch of points where they could not record any.
Up 10-8 in the first set, they had the opportunity to really take control of the match, but they faulted on a serve, a very familiar theme for the night.
From that point forward, the other team rattled off 6 straight points and put the 5th/6th graders behind 14-10.
There was nothing flashy, too difficult or overhand about the girl that was serving. She simply made good contact and the girls just could not break her serve.
However, the girls did make a furious comeback and had the momentum to seize set one. Down 22-21, Kaela hit a ball that appeared to be out of bounds, but after looking at the replay, the ball grazed the line, and should've been ruled in, not out. The other team caught a break and led by two.
Also not working in the 5th/6th grade's favor was the biggest girl on the other team, on more than one occasion, two-hit/lifted the ball. That infraction was only called once by the referee and in a 25-21 first set, each point was magnified.
In the second set, the girls were just flat from the start, and fell behind early 7-1.
Not much improved midway through the second set, and at one point they trailed 17-7. The game was all but over.
After breaking serve out of a timeout, the 5th/6th grade crept to within striking distance thanks to five straight serves by Britney, which cut the lead in half to 17-12.
They even got as close as 21-18, but at the end of the day, the 5th/6th graders just made too many little mistakes to overcome and were bounced from the playoffs.
What hurt the girls the most was what they were good at the entire year, serving. Karina, Shelvy and Britney were consistent for the most part on their serves, but everyone else failed to get into a groove.
Like their final game of the regular season, they had trouble putting together a string of points. And when they did, it was too little too late.
The girls really needed to win that first set because their spirits seemed to be a little dampened to start the second. The jitters were apparent and a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes were made.
Had they won the first set, we could possibly talking about a championship next Sunday.
In the end, their fairytale season ended a week too soon. With only Kaela having any prior volleyball experience, this team came together in a span of two shorts months and put together the best rookie season in St. Mary's volleyball history.
With two 5th graders in a 6th grade division, the girls were among the elite in their group and were bounced from the playoffs by a team that will most likely be hoisting the first place trophy.
The inexperience and big stage of the playoffs got to them a little bit in the second set, but a game like this should get them battle ready for plenty of big games that lie ahead in the future.
Only one team will ever be truly happy with the outcome of their season, the champion.
And there's no doubt that a game like this will motivate these talented girls to one day be that team, which finishes the season satisfied.
Up 10-8 in the first set, they had the opportunity to really take control of the match, but they faulted on a serve, a very familiar theme for the night.
From that point forward, the other team rattled off 6 straight points and put the 5th/6th graders behind 14-10.
There was nothing flashy, too difficult or overhand about the girl that was serving. She simply made good contact and the girls just could not break her serve.
However, the girls did make a furious comeback and had the momentum to seize set one. Down 22-21, Kaela hit a ball that appeared to be out of bounds, but after looking at the replay, the ball grazed the line, and should've been ruled in, not out. The other team caught a break and led by two.
Also not working in the 5th/6th grade's favor was the biggest girl on the other team, on more than one occasion, two-hit/lifted the ball. That infraction was only called once by the referee and in a 25-21 first set, each point was magnified.
In the second set, the girls were just flat from the start, and fell behind early 7-1.
Not much improved midway through the second set, and at one point they trailed 17-7. The game was all but over.
After breaking serve out of a timeout, the 5th/6th grade crept to within striking distance thanks to five straight serves by Britney, which cut the lead in half to 17-12.
They even got as close as 21-18, but at the end of the day, the 5th/6th graders just made too many little mistakes to overcome and were bounced from the playoffs.
What hurt the girls the most was what they were good at the entire year, serving. Karina, Shelvy and Britney were consistent for the most part on their serves, but everyone else failed to get into a groove.
Like their final game of the regular season, they had trouble putting together a string of points. And when they did, it was too little too late.
The girls really needed to win that first set because their spirits seemed to be a little dampened to start the second. The jitters were apparent and a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes were made.
Had they won the first set, we could possibly talking about a championship next Sunday.
In the end, their fairytale season ended a week too soon. With only Kaela having any prior volleyball experience, this team came together in a span of two shorts months and put together the best rookie season in St. Mary's volleyball history.
With two 5th graders in a 6th grade division, the girls were among the elite in their group and were bounced from the playoffs by a team that will most likely be hoisting the first place trophy.
The inexperience and big stage of the playoffs got to them a little bit in the second set, but a game like this should get them battle ready for plenty of big games that lie ahead in the future.
Only one team will ever be truly happy with the outcome of their season, the champion.
And there's no doubt that a game like this will motivate these talented girls to one day be that team, which finishes the season satisfied.
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