VB fans were treated to one of the most memorable VB matches in recent memory on Thursday night in Hitchcock. The Patriots pulled off a 5 set marathon victory, after being down 2-0.
In the first set, the Patriots found themselves down 7, after Coach Opp would call his second time-out. The Patriots would use a scoring run late in the set, behind a Presley Binger, to get within one, 23-24, but the Pirates would squeak the set out with a win, 25-23
In the second set, the Patriots and Pirates would play almost point for point. The Pirates would end up winning the second set, 25-21.
The Patriots would fine themselves in a must win situation in set 3. The Patriots jumped out to a lead and would not look back. The Patriots would win set 3, 25-18.
The fourth set, proved to be a marathon set. The two teams would play point for point with many errors, missed serves, and kills. The Patriots would also find themselves running out of subs as teams are only allowed a maximum of 18 subs in a set. The Patriots would have several chances to end the game at 25, but could not get that big kill that they needed. The two teams would play until the Patriots would end the set 32-30 and set up the deciding set 5.
In set five, the Patriots earned the serve and jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind Presley Binger's serving. The Pirates would use a time-out and claw their way back into the set as the Pirates would take a 6-5 lead and that would cause the Patriots to use a time out. The Patriots would then find themselves down 7-10, and the Patriots would use their last time-out. The Patriots would score 4 points in row and lead 11-10 and the Pirates would use their last time out. The Patriots would have a scoring run to keep the lead behind Cambree Hoekman's serving. Isabel Gilbert would come up with a big solo block at the end of set 5 to seal the victory 15-13.
The Patriots would be lead by Rebecca Huizenga going 49-56 in the hitting department and recording a season high 19 kills. Ella Johnson would go 20-22 for 9 kills. Lila Johnson and Isabel Gilbert would 9 and 6 kills respectively. Presley Binger and Gracyn Bixler would orchestrate the offense with 19 and 17 assists. The Patriots would score 110-117 from the serving line with 8 aces. Presley Binger would lead the serving by going 33-35 with 3 aces. Gracyn Bixler would go 15-15 with 2 aces. Isabel Gilbert would also add 2 aces.
Defensively, Cambree Hoekman recorded 33 digs, Ella Johnson would add 13, Binger added 11, and Kaycee Stoner would tally 10 digs. Isabel Gilbert would tally 1 big solo block in the match, would be a big block at the end of the 5th set to seal the victory. Huizenga would also add 1 solo and 1 block assist.
The Patriots, 6-8, are back in action at home on Tuesday night, for their homecoming match against the Iroquois-Lake Preston Sharks. Jr High will begin at 5:15, followed by JV and Varsity.