Victoria saves the 7th/8th graders

Shellshocked. Stunned. Baffled.

Just a few words that summed up the first few minutes of the 7th/8th grade girls final volleyball game of the regular season.

This team, built to contend for a championship, found themselves in a 10-0 hole to start the first set, against a team that entered the game with just two wins.

Yes, they played without Edwena, but consider the fact that Edwena isn't on the court all the time. If the girls show even half the signs they did Saturday, it will be one and done.

After scoring a few points, they once again self destructed. Vivianna, Fiona, Ivy and even Victoria faulted on serves.

Down 24-17, the 7th/8th graders were a point away from losing the first set. It would've been an epic fail considering they were completely out of sort and sleepwalked their way through the start of the game.

They forced a sideout to make it 24-18 and then Victoria pulled a rabbit out of her hat, serving eight straight balls over for points, rallying the girls to an undeserving, but yet remarkable 26-24 first set win.

The second set was a little easier as they won 25-10.

Victoria set an unofficial St. Mary's record by serving 15 straight balls over for points as she put the girls out to a 7-0 lead in set two.

After a scolding in between sets, the 7th/8th grade (6-2) looked more focused and played with a sense of urgency. They cutdown on their faults, served solidly and started setting up the bump, set and spike.

They'll need to do that and more come playoff time, because any of the four teams that are in the post-season can win the championship. There are no easy games the rest of the way.

For the better part of the first set, the girls looked uninterested, lethargic, and content with just trading bumps. They weren't aggressive, didn't set up spikes and were overall disoriented.

It didn't help they dug themselves that early hole. And with the 0 looming large on the scoreboard, the girls were tight and reverted back to playing bump ball.

But all that is now in the past. It's two games to win it all, one loss ends it all.

By far this is the best lowest division in the six years of St. Mary's volleyball. Realistically, the four teams in this division that are in the playoffs could compete in at least the next two highest divisions.

Going forward, they can ill afford any performance that resembled the early stages of the first set.