For the Atlee girls volleyball team, their worst set of the year couldn't have come at a worse time.
Ocean Lakes outserved, outran, and outplayed the host Raiders 25-12 to take a quick 1-0 lead in their State Group AAA Quarterfinal Tuesday evening. That's when senior Hailey Brooks grabbed her teammates.
"I told them, that game is over. Focus on what's ahead."
Thus began a three-set thrill ride that saw the Raiders fall behind 16-10 in the second set before rallying for a 19-19 tie. Brooks then deftly sent the ball over the net falling gently inbounds, the softest of kills to make it Atlee 20, Ocean Lakes 19.
Brooks then took complete command, with four aces in five points to clinch a 25-19 win, then serving the winning ace in a 26-24 third set win en route to a four-set victory over the Dolphins, avenging their loss to Ocean Lakes in the 2011 State Semis, 12-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-18.
Brooks wasn't alone in the resurrection. Junior Clarke Tyler may have had "just" four kills, three blocks and two digs, but each of them seemingly came at very important points in the match, adding power in the middle of the Raider offense and defense.
Fellow senior Karlie Suber came up big with 13 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces and 9 digs, while Kylah Blackmore had back-to-back aces early in the third set to help keep the Atlee momentum alive.
The Raiders, now 30-2, play Stone Bridge, the Northern Region champions, in the first State Semifinal at 5pm Thursday at the Siegel Center, downtown Richmond. Tickets are $10.00.
We WILL be LIVE TWEETING the game, so follow us! @hanoversports
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The Cinderella ride of Lee-Davis came to an end Tuesday night in Virginia Beach as Eastern Region champion Kellam defeated the Confederates 3-0, winning 25-4, 25-9, 25-14. Becca Lass had seven kills for Lee-Davis, while Christina Penzer had five kills and three digs, Kylie Armstrong added two digs, as did co-captain Meghan Trice.
Lee-Davis ends their season with a record of 25-7. Congratulations to the Confederates!!!
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