So, so close

The Patriots finished up bracket play in the Dayspring Volleyball Classic (Quentin Road Tournament) with their best-played game of the year. But it wasn't quite enough, as the Patriots fell to the Saline Saints from Somerset, Kentucky in the championship game 25-20, 20-25, 15-12.

As mentioned in the previous post, the girls finished first in their pool with a 7-1 game record. The earned the girls a little extra sleep and a game against the eighth-seeded team from the other pool. This turned out to be First Baptist of Danville, IL who the girls played at 10:30. The girls played rather poorly, but were able to beat First Baptist 25-20, 25-15.

Next up was the quarterfinal and Freedom Farm. The girls had beaten them yesterday in pool play, but Freedom Farm was a good team. Even though FF was a better team than First Baptist, the Patriots won more easily. The girls, as they often do, had a little trouble early, but got over that and won the first game, 25-19. Following an evenly-played first part of the second game, the girls put together a good stretch of volleyball, and the girls prevailed 25-14.

Southside was the opponenent in the semi-finals, another victim of the Patriots in pool play. Their style was the toughest for Cal/Cal, with two tall middle hitters. The Patriots took the first game, 25-20. The second game the Mr. Hyde team showed up. The girls seemingly couldn't do anything right and lost 25-13. In the third game, the girls pulled it back together again, (hello Dr. Jekyll) and won 15-9.

The final game was against an enigma of a team from Kentucky, Saline. The girls wore very long shorts and three-quarter length sleeves, and did not appear very athletic. But they were a very fundamentally sound team, especially on defense. They had one big hitter, but their signature was not letting anything hit the ground. They had not lost a game all weekend. Early in the first game, Faith was set up for one of her signature booming hits. Blocked by their star. Again, another big hit. Again, another block. Then one was dug by Saline. Then another. Faith did not quit and began putting some down, but Saline methodically pulled out to a 18-11 lead. The girls did not pack it in, however, and got back into the the game. It wasn't quite enough, and Saline was victorious in the first game, 25-20. One could tell, though, that the confidence of Saline was a little shaken. In the second game, the Patriots took an early lead at 12-4. The teams played evenly until it was 18-11. Saline tightened up their defense again and #10 had some good hits and Saline got a little closer, but Calumet/Calvary held on for a 25-20 win.

The third game, which was to fifteen, started out badly for Cal/Cal. They were down three to nothing when Coach Carr called timeout. This seemed to calm the girls and they pulled ahead, 9-8. Three errors later the girls were down 11-9 and could not get any closer. Saline closed out the game, match and tournament by dinking to an open spot that the girls could not get to, and it was all over, Saline winning 15-12.

The consensus of the adults watching (and coaching) was that this was, far and away, the best the girls had played all year. Even though they lost, they had nothing to be ashamed of. If the girls play at this level the rest of the year, look out.

Big test on Tuesday - Faith of Lafayette, the winner of the Calumet tournament. If the girls play like they did Saturday night, this will be a good game. See you there (Lake Hills at 6; earlier for the JH and JV games. Check the schedule.