Chandler Hamilton’s top-rated volleyball team appeared ripe
for an upset against visiting Xavier Prep in a Premier Region battle on
Wednesday night (Oct. 5).
The Gators took the first game 25-21 and were ready to post
two more victories to win the match.
It didn’t happen.
The turning point came midway through the second game.
Xavier nursed a 12-11 lead, but Hamilton got the next five points and never
looked back for a 25-20 win.
The momentum carried the Huskies to victories in games 3 and
4, 25-19 and 25-18. Hamilton raised its record to 25-4. Xavier slipped to 20-5,
with a match at Mesa Desert Ridge on Thursday night (Oct. 6).
Xavier lost two relatively close games to Hamilton in the
recent Nike Tournament of Champions, and Xavier coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said
her team learned that “if you apply pressure to them, you can stay with them
and have a chance.’’
Knowing that is one thing, but making it a reality is
another.
The service and passing that helped the Gators win the first
game deserted them thereafter.
“When those things break down, that makes it difficult to
score,’’ Bryant said. “They’re a big-blocking team. You can’t score points for
them – that makes it even more difficult.’’
Hamilton senior Preslie Anderson, perhaps the state’s top
big player at 6-foot-2, turned on her power at the net and her teammates
provided assistance with strong defense and service. The Huskies perhaps are
the most balanced team in the state.
For Xavier, junior outside hitter Lanie Wagner had a good
all-round effort, and freshman outside hitter Briana McKnight is developing into
a force up front.
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