The North Greene volleyball team had to squeak out the final set, but picked up a 3-0 sweep of Hampton on Tuesday afternoon, 25-13, 25-17, 26-24.
The win keeps North Greene in the hunt for the top spot in District 1-A, but the Lady Huskies are still chasing West Greene and have two big meetings next week with the Lady Buffaloes and South Greene.
“We won and we are always happy with that, but things got rough in that third set. They figured out how to finish and it’s always great to get a district win. We had to have that to be where we want to be at the end of the year.” North Greene coach Emaline Erwin said.
The day started with the Lady Huskies earning a convincing win in the first set, but it took them a while to take command.
Hampton’s first four points of the set came on North Greene errors and the Lady Huskies did not take the lead until 6-5 when Matti Phillips slammed a kill from the right side.
The Lady Huskies first breathing room came at 10-7 after Josie Graham scored on a kill and a tip. With Kaydence Marshall serving the lead grew to 14-7
North Greene moved in front 18-8 when Loren Blevins first blocked a Lady Bulldog kill attempt and then scored on a tip. Kills from Phillips and Marshall followed as North Greene claimed a 25-13 win.
Phillips was big at the net throughout the day and finished with 15 kills on Tuesday, then when Hampton adjusted to her swings she got sneaky and beat the Lady Bulldogs with tips.
“Matti was killing it tonight. She was swinging hard and finding holes. I’m so proud of how she played,” Erwin said.
In the second set consecutive kills from Phillips put North Greene in front 5-3 early. Another kill by Phillips and aces from Blevins and Phillips pushed the lead to 10-5.
Hampton came back and closed the gap to 10-9 when Bridgit Sarrett pushed one deep to the back line. Errors gave North Greene two points back and then an ace by Mercy Buchanan put North Greene in front 13-9.
The Lady Bulldogs tied things at 16-16 but then North Greene closed the set on a 9-1 run for a 25-17 win. In that stretch Phillips scored on three kills and a tip, Hannah Miller had an ace and Kallie Dobson scored on a block.
Hampton refused to go down easy and quickly took command at 8-4 in the third set. Clare Clark had a kill and landed two aces in the opening stretch. Hampton’s biggest lead came at 16-7 on a kill from Sarrett.
North Greene got going again on a tip from Graham, and then went on a 6-0 run that closed the gap to 17-15. Buchanan started the run by pushing a free ball deep to the back line.
Blevins put down an ace to even the score at 19-19, and North Greene finally went in front at 21-20 on a kill from Phillips.
After Hampton regained the lead Graham ended a long volley with a kill to knot things at 24-24. Marshall followed with an ace and Graham completed the 26-24 comeback with another kill.
“We took a timeout down seven or eight points, and I just told them they had to make better passes and get their serves in. That’s what they did, and they figured out how to get back in it,” Erwin said.
Graham finished Tuesday with nine kills, Marshall had 16 assists and Buchanan had 17 serve receptions.
