After a nearly two-week layoff for both teams, familiar rivals opened the 5A Division II boys’ volleyball playoffs.
Catawba Ridge beat Nation Ford 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 25-27, 25-18) in their playoff opener as both teams haven’t played since the regular season final Oct. 17.
“I thought we played well,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Ross Lisee. “We slipped a little bit in the third set. They (Nation Ford) are a great team. The second half of the season, they did a really good job.”
The Copperheads improved to 15-8 on the season and will travel to No. 1 seeded Greenwood on Friday, Nov. 1 for an Upper State semifinals battle.
Catawba Ridge came out on fire scoring the first four points of the opening set. The Copperheads stayed in control for the majority of the first set extending their lead to 11-6.
Nation Ford struggled to get the ball down as Catawba Ridge was strong at the net getting kills. The Falcons made their adjustments and scored five of seven points to climb back into the set.
After a Copperheads timeout, Nation Ford tied the set at 17. Catawba Ridge then scored five consecutive points to regain a firm grip on the set before another Falcons timeout. Catawba Ridge put the set away after the timeout and went up 1-0.
The Copperheads opened the second set scoring the first three points, but Nation Ford didn’t allow them to pull away this time and started matching them nearly point for point.
The two teams continued to struggle to get an advantage on the other until Catawba Ridge scored three of four points about midway through the set to take a 14-12 lead.
The Copperheads forced Nation Ford into mistakes after the small lead to go up 20-15 before a Falcons timeout. Again, after the timeout, Catawba Ridge used three straight points to help them eventually go up 2-0 in winning the second set.
Catawba Ridge kept things moving in their direction starting the third set 6-0. Nation Ford fought back scoring seven of the next eight points to tie the set. The tide quickly shifted to where both teams, after being tied at 10, struggled to gain an advantage.
Nation Ford went up 20-17 too, but the Copperheads rallied to tie it at 23. After both teams took a timeout, the Falcons were able to take the set 27-25.
Both teams were nip and tuck in the fourth set to start. Nation Ford’s play at the net creating blocks was key to keep the Copperheads off balance somewhat. Still neither team was able to get more than a two-point advantage.
After a Falcons timeout, Catawba Ridge put together a small run to get an 18-13 advantage. The Copperheads remained in control to take the set and match after another Nation Ford timeout.
Nation Ford finished the season at 10-14, but head coach Amanda Scott said she was proud of their fight against the Copperheads.
“We are right there,” she said. “There was so much growth this season. There is so much to be proud of.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
