The Nation Ford girls’ volleyball team picked up win number 30 on the season with a four-set win over the Catawba Ridge Copperheads.
Nation Ford won 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-9, 25-19) to improve to 30-2 overall on the season and 10-0 in Region 3-5A. Catawba Ridge dropped to 11-8 overall and 7-3 in the region.
Falcons’ head coach Craig Brown said that his team is playing well, but mentally needs to be at another level.
“I think we mentally, we need to be in better shape,” he said. “They impressed me with how well they hit the ball.”
The first set was a slow start for both with neither team pulling away. About midway through the first set, the two teams were tied at six before Nation Ford scored seven of the next nine points to start getting the advantage.
Once the Falcons got the lead, they were able to create some space and keep Catawba Ridge off balance. That led to Nation Ford taking the first set to go up 1-0.
Catawba Ridge started better in the second set, but the Falcons quickly got back into the set tying it at five. Despite the rally, the Copperheads found another gear and went up 10-5 before a Nation Ford timeout.
Catawba Ridge was able to maintain control out of the timeout and used strong serves to hold Nation Ford from making a run. Although they didn’t make a lengthy run, the Falcons slowly chipped away at Catawba Ridge’s 16-13 lead.
Although they closed the gap, the Copperheads played well and maintained the lead getting Nation Ford out of position. Both teams traded timeouts, before Catawba Ridge was able to tie the match at one by winning the set.
The Copperheads struggled to keep the momentum after tying the match. Nation Ford opened the third set going up 8-2. Nation Ford was stronger on their returns and forced the Copperheads into trying to get digs they couldn’t reach. Nation Ford extended their lead to 17-7 before another Catawba Ridge timeout.
The Falcons continued to push the pace taking the second set to go up 2-1.
Nation Ford jumped out to a slim lead to open the fourth set. That lead didn’t last long as the Copperheads would rally to tie the set at six.
The Falcons continued to show their strength at the net by hitting drop shots and keeping Catawba Ridge off balance to go up 12-7.
Nation Ford pushed their lead to 17-8, but the Copperheads didn’t go down without a challenge. Catawba Ridge cut the lead to 18-13. The Copperheads continued to chip away, but the gap was too great for them to overcome as Nation Ford took the fourth set and match.
Catawba Ridge head coach Alicia Lisee said she was proud of the fight her team showed.
“We are playing tough,” she said. “We are showing that we are right there. We just didn’t make the adjustments we needed too.”
Both teams will head to the Charleston area to play in the Wando Invitational this weekend.
Oct. 10 Roundup
The Nation Ford girls’ tennis team took the season series over Catawba Ridge winning 4-2 to improve to 9-1 in Region 3-5A play and 9-2 overall on the season. Nation Ford was led by wins from Ansley McDonald 6-0, 6-0; Piper Land 6-1, 6-2; Eva Mabey 6-0, 6-1; and Claire Kaltenbach and Tejal Guntuboyina in doubles 6-2, 6-4. Winning for Catawba Ridge was Gracyn Root 6-2, 1-6, 10-6 and Abby Russell 6-3, 2-6, 10-5. Catawba Ridge fell to 5-7 overall and 4-6 in region play.
The Catawba Ridge boys’ volleyball team beat Nation Ford 3-1 to improve to 8-4 in Region 3-5A and 13-7 overall. Nation Ford dropped to 4-8 in region play and 8-11 overall.
The Fort Mill boys’ volleyball team fell in five sets 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 13-15) to drop to 7-15 on the season and 4-8 in Region 3-5A play.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
