Rosewood takes final 2 sets against Eastern Wayne, snaps 3-game skid

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 26, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

With her team down one point in the decisive fifth set, Rosewood's Hannah Daniels stepped to the service line and delivered an ace.

3-3.

The middle-court strike ignited an 8-0 run that included two additional aces and an incredible, floor-diving save from Daniels that resulted in a point. Senior middle hitter Lexi Miller provided a kill to make it 10-3.

But Eastern Wayne wiggled its way back into contest at 14-12 before the match ended on two controversial calls -- a service over rule that favored the Warriors and then a match-ending double-hit violation on EW setter Emily Newsome.

Rosewood escaped 25-14, 24-26, 23-25, 25-17 and 15-13.

"I guess with a young team and inexperience, they don't know how to shut the door because volleyball is a game of momentum," RHS head coach Jennifer Cochran said. "You can't miss any serves, you've got make sure you serve to your spot, can't hit the ball into the net. We were better today than we were yesterday (Monday against Midway)."

Mercer pounded out 14 kills for the Eagles, who snapped a three-match losing streak. Ada Rivera and Kaitlyn Kincaid combined for 18 assists, and sophomore libero Macy Tyndall emerged as the defensive leader with 19 digs.

Eastern Wayne's 1-2 offensive punch of 6-foot-8 Naheria Hamilton and outside specialist Chelsea Wynn combined for 23 kills. Brianna Autman chipped in six kills.

Emily Newsome handed out 20 assists.

"It's heart breaking," EW head coach Jack Lewis said. "They played really good. Rosewood is a good ballclub, they're very well-coached. That was a much-improved ballclub we played tonight (than in a preseason scrimmage)."

Rosewood closed out the opening set with a 10-5 run. Daniels, Mercer, Carrie Beckert and transfer Tayzlie Tripple each connected on a crucial kill during that surge.

The Warriors (2-2 overall) regained their composure, changed their serving style and hit several hard shots that forced the Eagles out of their offensive system. Rosewood returned several transition balls that allowed Eastern Wayne to create attacks from different areas of the court and even the match at 1-all.

Lewis' club carried momentum into the third set, but had to rally from a six-point deficit. Wynn's kill off of Newsome's assist and an attack error capped the comeback.

The Eagles regained their composure in the fourth set and forced the fifth set -- the first five-set match played by either team this season.

"Careless errors caused us multiple points," said Lewis, whose team committed 54 errors -- 10 on serve, 18 unforced and 26 attack miscues.

"Communication hurt us tonight, too. We had mental breakdowns ... some conflict in that fourth set amongst ourselves that we had to get nipped in the butt. Lack of teamwork and trust for each other."

Although her team finally scratched in the win column, Cochran had mixed emotions about the fifth-set ending. She understood the controversial line call on a serve and the over rule from the chair referee.

Even the carry by Newsome bothered her, too.

"I hate to end the game on a carry, when I don't think it was a carry and that's my personal opinion," Cochran said. "We were happy, but not really happy. We wanted to earn it."