Izzy Martinez goes high and slams home a kill in the first set. Martinez’ dominant effort on Thursday night helped lead the Viqueens to the win. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
UNIONVILLE — For three hard-fought sets, the Cascade Lady Champions battled tooth and nail against county rival Community and at times, had the Purple and Gold on its heels.
Laina Carter splits the Viqueen defense for a kill in the second set. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
But even after taking a Set 2 victory and battling in a thriller of a third set, the Viqueens were able to finish the match off with a dominant fourth set to take the 4-1 win over the Lady Champions.
The first s
Breanna Grooms records a dig and saves a point for the Viqueens. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
et started off as a back-and-forth affair until a service error allowed Community to take a 9-8 lead.
Community never trailed again and scored the final nine-consecutive points of the set to take an early 1-0 lead.
Alivia Fannin settles under the ball and controls the possession for the Lady Champs. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
But while Community’s Izzy Martinez made her presence felt in the first set, Cascade stormed back in the second set after trailing 18-13 at one point and eventually took the 26-24 Set 2 win to even the match at one apiece.
Like the second set, the third set was close from the opening serve, with neither team leading by more than three points at any point during the third set.
Community looked set to take the match, but a block by Rylee Belfield brought the Lady Champions back within a point.
The score went on to deadlock three more times in the third set before Hadley Martin recorded back-to-back kills to give the Viqueens the 29-27 Set 3 win.
While the second and third sets were as even-keeled as possible, Community completely dominated the fourth set, racing out to a 7-0 lead before a service error put Cascade on the board.
Martinez again went to work on the front line for the Purple and Gold and led the way as the Viqueens controlled the fourth set from the opening serve to the final point and took the 25-10 win to secure the 3-1 match victory.
The win marked the seventh in six matches for the Purple and Gold.
On Saturday, both Cascade and Community traveled to Coffee County to take part in the Southern Slam.
Community 4, Cascade 1
Set scores: 25-14, 24-26, 29-27, 25-10
