INDIAN LAND – For the third time this season, the boys’ volleyball teams of Nation Ford and Indian Land faced each other, but this time there was more on the line.
The two teams met in the opening round of the 5A Division II playoffs with Indian Land winning 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-19). Nation Ford finished their season at 13-14 overall.
“We just didn’t have enough power to match their power,” said Nation Ford head coach Amanda Scott. “Our young guys played well. The future is bright for us. We have gotten better and better each year.”
The first set started with streaks by both teams. Indian Land went up 6-0 before Nation Ford scored three consecutive points. Indian Land was strong in their return game and produced several kills in the early portion of the set. The Warriors went up 16-8 before a Falcons timeout.
The Warriors continued to double up Nation Ford in the set going up 22-11 before the set win to go up 1-0.
Nation Ford started the second set strong going up 5-2 and returned the favor by doubling up the Warriors at 10-5 before an Indian Land timeout.
After the timeout, Indian Land regrouped and was able to rattle off four points to get back into the set. Despite the rally by the Warriors, Nation Ford held onto the lead without giving it up to go up 15-12.
The rally Indian Land was searching for finally happened as they tied the set at 18. The Warriors took a 21-20 lead as Nation Ford took a timeout to try and regroup. The break benefited Indian Land as they scored five of the next seven points to win the set and go up 2-0.
Both teams played each other close to open the third set. Indian Land scored first, but the Falcons would tie it and then go up 5-3. Nation Ford kept the lead and pushed it to 8-4. However, that lead was hard to keep as the Warriors pulled within one at 10-9 before a Nation Ford timeout.
The Falcons executed hard kills, but the Indian Land defense was able to sustain the blows and get returns in the process.
Indian Land then got a big momentum shift and tied the set at 13, before scoring three consecutive points to gain control of the set.
The Warriors went up 20-15 as the Falcons called timeout. Out of the timeout, Indian Land maintained their momentum closing the set out for the sweep.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
