A would-be competitive Region 3-5A match-up, turned into a shocker as the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets volleyball team beat the Nation Ford Falcons for the first time in five years.
Coming into the first region match for both schools, Fort Mill had not beaten the Falcons since Sept. 27, 2016 and hadn’t won a set off them since Oct. 12, 2017. However, for the Jackets everything was aligned Tuesday night as they swept Nation Ford 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23).
The win in dominating fashion even caught Fort Mill’s first year head coach Jim Seidel off guard at little bit. Fort Mill is now 12-3 on the season, while Nation Ford falls to 9-4 overall.
“I am surprised we were able to sweep them,” he said. “We matched up well against them.”
Fort Mill opened each set by taking the lead and really controlled the match in the first two sets despite Nation Ford playing them tight in the second and third set. The Jackets confidence quickly rose to the top as they opened the first set going up 7-0 on their home court with a nearly packed Fort Mill High gym.
Nation Ford scored coming out of the time out, but could never really close the gap in the first set as Fort Mill soon went up 16-8. The Falcons took another time out trailing 20-11, before the Jackets closed the opening set out 25-18.
The Jackets got first blood opening the second set going up early, but Nation Ford came back to take a 5-3 lead. The two teams traded the lead for part of the set and often kept things tied trading points multiple times. After being tied at 14-14, Fort Mill scored three straight points to get a small lead where they would then hold off any attacks from the Falcons to close out the set 25-19.
Fort Mill again started hot in the third set going up 9-4, but Nation Ford made a game of it and cut the score to within two at 18-16 forcing the Jackets to take a time out. The Falcons would then tie the match at 18-18, before Fort Mill again pulled ahead slightly. Each team liberally took time outs in the set, but Fort Mill made one final push to get a 25-23 win.
Seidel said he feels like this helps his team moving forward in the region.
“I think it sends a message to the region that Fort Mill is a rising team,” he said.
Nation Ford head coach Craig Brown, who is also in his first year as head coach for the Falcons, said his team didn’t show up.
“Don’t get me wrong, they (Fort Mill) played well,” he said. “We didn’t adjust well. We knew the region was going to be tough this year. We still got work to do.”
Fort Mill next plays at Clover Thursday, while Nation Ford plays at home Thursday against Boiling Springs.
Golf
Catawba Ridge swept both Nation Ford and Fort Mill at Springfield Golf Club beating each of their in-town rivals. The Copperheads shot a 177 and was led by Katherine Mann, who shot a 40 to tie for medalist in the match. Her score was followed by a 41 from Kate Gilmer and a 42 from Eileen Zeoli. Regan Lynch finished the scoring for Catawba Ridge with a 54.
Nation Ford shot a 182 and was led by Vivian Harris, who also shot a 40 in tying for medalist. Her score was followed by a 42 from Sara McCaskill and a 49 from Katie Griggs. Fharren Coleman shot a 51 to finish the scoring for the Falcons.
Fort Mill shot a 186 and was led by MacKenzie Finn, who shot a 45. She was followed by a 46 from Cayla Cappuzzo and a 47 from Emily Broshious, while Greycen Baker rounded out the scoring for the Jackets with a 48.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
