The Fort Mill boys’ volleyball team swept the season series against Nation Ford by getting a four-set win Wednesday night.
Fort Mill won 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 23-25, 25-8) after winning the first two sets. The Jackets are now 5-4 on the season, while Nation Ford dropped to 1-6 overall.
“Definitely to start you could tell it was more intense,” said Fort Mill head coach Tamisha Martin. “We had more confidence this time in playing them.”
Nation Ford started the first set with the lead, but Fort Mill would tie it soon thereafter. Nation Ford pulled ahead, but Fort Mill was always right on their heels and tied it twice in the first set. Fort Mill then went up 16-14 forcing Nation Ford into a time out.
Coming out of the time out, Fort Mill scored four of the next five points to pull away from the Falcons and go up 20-15 before putting the set away.
Fort Mill stayed in control in the second set and never trailed jumping out to a 9-6 lead. Nation Ford stayed within striking distance, but could never seem to put a run together. Fort Mill on the other hand was able to put a run together and rattled off six of nine points to go up 18-10 as Nation Ford took a time out to try and regroup, but couldn’t as the Jackets took a 2-0 lead.
The third set was all Fort Mill to start again, but Nation Ford finally was able to make a run to take the set. Fort Mill went up 8-4 after starting 4-0 and then extended their lead to 18-10, before Nation Ford started chipping away. The Falcons pulled within four at 22-18, before tying the set up at 23. Nation Ford would score the next two points to grab the set win and prevent the shutout.
Fort Mill made sure that history didn’t repeat itself in the fourth set and again jumped out to a 6-0 start. The Jackets held serve most of the time and was all business in the set going up 21-4. Nation Ford did rally some to make it 22-8, but could not put a run together like they did in the third set.
Nation Ford head coach Tory Tysdal said her team wasn’t in the right mentality.
“Nobody came with the mentality we could win,” she said. “Fort Mill has improved a lot, but we aren’t seeing the same strides as other teams.”
Up next for Fort Mill is participating in the Eastside tournament this weekend. For Nation Ford, they will host a tri-match with Rock Hill and Greenwood at home Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
