The Miami Trace Lady Panthers volleyball team welcomed the team from Westfall High School for a non-conference match Wednesday evening.
In a real back and forth affair, Miami Trace came away with the win, three sets to two.
Scores of the sets were: 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 23-25 and 15-11.
Miami Trace took their first lead at 6-5.
Westfall led, 10-9, before the Lady Panthers regained the lead, 13-12.
Westfall held a 19-18 lead, but Miami Trace sophomore Kate Leach served the last several points as the Lady Panthers grabbed the first set, 25-20.
In the second set, Westfall built an 18-10 lead, only to see Miami Trace battle back and pull to within one point, 19-18.
The Lady Mustangs prevailed to even the match at a set apiece, 25-20.
In the third set, Miami Trace had the momentum back on their side, leading by as many as eight points (12-4) before Westfall gradually chipped away and pulled to within two points (18-16).
Miami Trace finished out the set with a 25-20 victory.
In the fourth set, Westfall was in front most of the way.
At one point, Miami Trace made a tremendous comeback effort.
Trailing 19-7, the set looked all but out of reach for the Lady Panthers.
Kate Leach went back to serve and soon served 12 points in a row with several kills by senior Erica Marshall to tie the set, 19-19.
Miami Trace tied the set once more, 23-23 before Westfall pulled out the hard-fought win, 25-23 to even the match, two sets all.
In the deciding set, Miami Trace took an early 5-2 lead.
Westfall showed no quit as they rallied for a 7-6 advantage.
The set was tied a final time, 8-8 before Miami Trace won seven of the last 10 points to post the 15-11 win to claim the match.
“The kids really played with heart and passion, especially in that last game, going to 15,” Miami Trace head coach Doug Mace said. “I think both teams were worn out. I know our kids were worn out. They were playing on emotion at that point.
“Erica Marshall and our other seniors, Tabby Landrum and Dyamin Baker, they did a great job,” Mace said. “I was really proud to watch the way they played the entire match.
“Some of our younger kids — we have some sophomores and freshmen out there, you know — that was a pretty tough game,” Mace said. “It was close. All of the points mattered. Kate Leach had some pretty good serves there. Shalyn (Landrum) and Grace (Bapst) did a real nice job of setting for us tonight. And Erica kind of put the team on her back there in the fourth game.”
Erica Marshall had nine kills for Miami Trace.
Kate Leach had five ace serves for the Lady Panthers.
Miami Trace, now 3-5 overall, will be back in action Tuesday, Sept. 12 for a Frontier Athletic Conference match at Hillsboro, starting with the j-v at 5 p.m.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
