The Caldwell County Lady Tigers volleyball team very nearly pulled off an epic comeback to earn a return trip to Richmond in the All A Classic. However, Ballard Memorial found a way to survive the comeback effort and take a five set win over the Lady Tigers in the sectional matchup between the 1st Region and 2nd Region champions. The 5th set was a nailbiter, going all the way to 22-20 before the Lady Bombers secured the win.
Caldwell County got off to a quick start in the match. Behind the play off Abby Griggs, the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first set. With Olivia Mitchell and Mary Tays adding to the attack, the lead would grow to 16-7. Then, the Lady Bombers began their rally.
A six point run cut the lead to 16-13, and the battle was on. Ballard Memorial would tie the set at 19-19. But a four point run for Caldwell County seemed like it would end the threat.
With Caldwell County leading 24-21, and needing just one point to take the opening set, the Lady Bombers stunned the Lady Tigers with a 5-0 run to rip the set away from the Lady Tigers’ hands and go up 1-0 in the match.
The Ballard Memorial duo of Isabella Myers and Bailey Lee combined for 10 kills in the opening set to lead the way for the Lady Bombers.
The Ballard rally seemed to set the Lady Tigers back on their heels a little bit as the second set got underway. With the second set tied at 4-4, the Lady Bombers scored five in a row to go up 9-4.
Caldwell County battled back to get even at 15-15. But the Lady Tigers could not get to the front. The Lady Bombers finished the set on a 10-1 run to win 25-16 and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
Myers and Lee again combined for 10 kills in the set, while Myers added three service aces to her total.
With their backs firmly against the walls down two sets to none, the Lady Tigers came out clawing in the third set. The set was a battle early on, being tied at 8-8, 9-9, and 11-11. Then, with Olivia Mitchell and Mary Tays heating up, Caldwell County made its move to get back in the match. The Lady Tigers scored seven straight to take an 18-11 lead and full control of the set. Caldwell County would roll on to take the set 25-17 and close to within 2-1 in the match.
It was a big set for Olivia Mitchell, who had six kills in the set for the Lady Tigers. Abby Griggs added four kills. And, Mary Tays added a pair of service aces for Caldwell County.
With the momentum now going their way, the Lady Tigers kept things rolling in the 4th set.
The set got underway with Mitchell and Ballard Memorial’s Isabella Myers trading shots back and forth. The set was tied early at 2, 3, 4, 5, and six, before Caldwell County grabbed control of the set with six straight points to take a 12-6 lead. Olivia Mitchell and Mary Tays led the way during the run for the Lady Tigers.
Ballard was not about to go quietly in the set, however. The Lady Bombers made a furious run to close within one at 24-23, but Abby Griggs kill on the next point ended the set at 25-23, and tied the match at 2-2.
Olivia Mitchell had a huge set for the Lady Tigers, finishing with 8 kills. Mary Tays added four of her own.
The 5th set was everything you would want out of a five set match in a tournament setting. Crowd noise, intense long rallies, borderline calls, big plays, and emotion all over the floor.
The deciding set was a brutal back and forth affair. The kind that has fans chewing their nails and turns coaches hair grey, or causes them to lose it. The set was tied 12 times. There were five lead changes. Each team had chances to win the match. Caldwell County had three match points, while Ballard Memorial had five.
Ultimately, it would be the Lady Bombers Isabella Myers who would break the Lady Tigers’s hearts. With the match tied at 20-20, Myers, who had 29 kills on the night, powered her way to two consecutive kills to close out the set 22-20, giving the Lady Bombers the win and the trip to Richmond next weekend for the Elite 8 round of this year’s All A Classic.
Olivia Mitchell had another outstanding night for Caldwell County, finishing with 27 kills, 32 digs, 3 aces and 2 blocks. Abby Griggs added 16 kills for the Lady Tigers. Riley Thomas had a solid night with 23 digs. And, Kendyll Prowell was “waitress-like” on the court, setting the table for the Lady Tigers with 48 assists.
The loss drops Caldwell County to 8-2 on the season. Both losses have come to 1st Region opponents.
Ballard Memorial moves to 14-0 and will now play the winner of the sectional game between the 15th Region and 16th Region next Saturday in Richmond.
