An adjustment for the Fort Mill girls’ volleyball team going into the fifth set was what they needed to rally over the Clover Blue Eagles.
Fort Mill won 3-2 (25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 20-25, 15-10) over Clover after winning the first two sets. The Jackets struggled to regain their composure until the fifth set after losing the third and fourth sets.
“I just told them to play little games to five,” said new Fort Mill head volleyball coach Erin Kayton. “I told them to shake off the losses and breathe. We were down one of our best, but just go have fun.”
Clover started the opening set jumping out to a 4-0 lead, but the Jackets battled back to tie the set at eight. Fort Mill continued to rally taking a 12-9 lead with strong play at the net.
Clover kept the set close pulling within two points on several occasions. Fort Mill pulled ahead by four at 23-19 forcing Clover into a timeout. The Jackets came out of the timeout and closed out the first set to go up 1-0.
Fort Mill went up to start the second set, but Clover quickly tied it at six. The Blue Eagles took a small 9-7 lead before it was Fort Mill rallied to tie the set at 11.
The Jackets rattled off four consecutive points to go up 15-11 and regained control. From there they would keep the lead as Clover struggled to keep pace.
Again, Fort Mill kept the momentum and continued to pull away taking the second set by seven points. Towards the end of the second set, Fort Mill’s Grier McNeely went down with a left ankle injury that changed the complexion of the match.
The Blue Eagles took the lead in the third set going up 4-0 to start. Fort Mill continued to play well, and finally caught up with Clover as they were tied at nine.
Fort Mill caught up with the Blue Eagles three times and tied the set. Clover again pulled out as they went up 20-17 where the Jackets took a timeout.
Fort Mill came out of the time out and played better, but couldn’t catch up to Clover who took the set.
In the fourth set, Clover took an early lead, but both teams stayed close and started trading the lead.
Fort Mill went up 8-6, but then Clover went on a 6-0 run to take a 12-8 lead before a Jackets timeout. Things didn’t improve for Fort Mill as Clover went up 16-8 having rattled off 10 straight points.
The Jackets struggled with returns during the set and was unable to stop the Blue Eagles’ momentum. Clover was able to keep a sizable distance between themselves and Fort Mill as they took the fourth set tying the match and forcing a decisive fifth set.
Both teams were competitive to open the fifth set, but Fort Mill scored four consecutive points to go up 7-3 before a Clover timeout.
The Jackets kept things rolling out of the timeout and didn’t let Clover climb back in the set as they went up 13-7 before another Blue Eagles timeout.
The win put Fort Mill at 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in Region 3-5A.
Sept. 4 Roundup
The Fort Mill girls’ tennis team beat Clover 6-0 to improve to 3-0 on the year. Winning for Fort Mill was Abhi Nallareddy 6-2, 6-2; Kendall McCarty 3-6, 6-2, 10-8; Molly Goodson 6-1, 6-2; Avalon Stevens 6-1, 6-2; Smriti Kirubakaran 6-4, 6-3; and in doubles Sofia Burger and Ellie Corbet 6-1, 6-0.
The Fort Mill boys’ volleyball team dropped to 2-5 on the season losing to Clover on the road 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-20). They are 0-2 in region.
The Fort Mill girls’ golf team fell to Northwestern 190-207 for their first loss of the season and are now 2-1.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
