VOLLEYBALL: Rosewood rallies on the road

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on September 14, 2016 9:57 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- From the outset through its decisive points Tuesday evening, the Carolina1-A Conference varsity volleyball clash between county foes Rosewood and Spring Creek was scripted in a manner of classic rivalry pomp.

There were familiar faces. High-energy bursts of play and celebration.

The hosts even had a raucous student section at their disposal.

Ultimately, the environment wasn't enough to defeat visiting Rosewood, which rallied from a 2-0 deficit to post a 16-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-11 road triumph.

But nothing about it was easy.

The opening two games were the exclusive property of Spring Creek, which took advantage of unforced Rosewood passing errors and countered with quality play of its own at the net.

Following an Eagle rally that made the score 11-10, SC's Fernanda Martinez sparked a 6-0 Spring Creek outburst that culminated in a 25-16 victory.

The story was much the same through the second set, as the hosts continually served Rosewood out of position and handled every counter punch thrown by the Eagles during a swift-moving, 25-17 conquest.

Matters turned, however, in the third stanza.

Consecutive blocks by Rosewood's Hannah Daniels stifled a quick Spring Creek start and made the score 9-8. Further, it marked a noticeable difference in the Gators' intensity.

"The energy they had in those first two sets didn't quite carry over (to the third), SC coach Staci Haynes said. "They went out a little bit too calm... gave Rosewood enough points to get going."

Coupled with more strong play from Daniels -- who led the purple-and-gold with 13 kills on the evening -- the Eagles finalized a 25-21 victory and formed the basis of their unlikely rally.

"We talked, we communicated," head coach Jennifer Cochran noted of the turning point. "We didn't the first two games."

The Gators opened slowly in the fourth, and trailed 12-7 before mounting a charge behind the play of McKinley Edmondson and Martinez. And when Kayla Herring deftly played a ball out of the net for a winner at 20-all, SC's first victory of the season seemed a distinct possibility.

Daniels, however, simply wouldn't let Rosewood lose.

Consecutive blocks by the senior leveled the score at 22, and moments later Hailey Weeks served out the game to tie the affair at two apiece.

The decisive game was again a nail-biter, with both clubs playing at a high level on serve and at the net. A Daniels kill briefly gave Rosewood an 11-10 lead, but was negated instantly by a Martinez one-timer.

With tension mounting and the score 12-11, Rosewood's Braylee Butts stepped to the service line. The sophomore -- who also registered 11 kills on the evening -- promptly iced matters, closing out a perfect effort on serve with three points to end the match.

Rosewood 3, Spring Creek 2.

"I'm proud of my girls, we didn't quit," Cochran said. "I think we just won on pure heart."

Rosewood (4-9 overall, 3-2 CC) travels to Lakewood on Thursday. Spring Creek (0-7, 0-4) will match its improved form versus Hobbton.