The Alcester-Hudson Cubs hosted the Gayville-Volin Raiders on Thursday, September 1st. After taking a 2-0 set lead, the Cubs lost the next three sets to the Raiders to drop the match 3-2.
The Cubs got out to a quick start in the opening set with a 6-1 lead. Alcester-Hudson just slowly kept building the lead throughout the set. Their lead grew to eight points, 17-9, but the Raiders rallied to tie the score and then take a 24-23 lead. The Cubs would not let this first set slip away as they scored the next three points for a 26-24 win.
Gayville-Volin was the one that had a quick start in the second set, building a 7-2 advantage. Their lead grew to seven points at 10-3. The Cubs got the score tied, 12-12, with a 9-2 rally. After falling behind by a couple of points, 16-14, Alcester-Hudson scored four in a row for an 18-16 lead. The Raiders would again tie the score 24-24 to force extra time, and as in the first set, the Cubs were able to take the win 26-24 for a 2-0 match lead.
The Raiders again put the pressure on the Cubs to start the third set with a 10-2 lead. Alcester-Hudson was unable to rally this time as the lead grew to 18-3 before Gayville-Volin won the third set 25-11. The Raiders took an early 3-1 lead in the fourth and maintained about a two-point lead to the middle point at 10-8. After a 13-13 tie, the Raiders went on a run to pull ahead 23-14. Gayville-Volin took the fourth set 25-15 to tie the match.
Another early strike by the Raiders gave them a 4-1 lead. The Cubs scored the next two points, but momentum shifted to the Raider as they scored the next five points for a 9-3 advantage. Alcester-Hudson tried to rally and got within four points, 13-9, but the Raiders stopped the Cubs and won the match with a fifth-set win 15-9.
Emma Moller had 10 kills and 19 digs on the night. Elly Doering finished with 13 kills and 13 digs. Hannah Ahart had a team-high 24 digs and three ace serves. Jenna Manning finished with 19 digs. Ella Serck added 17 digs and a kill. Alexis Gray had 15 digs and seven kills. Carly Patrick finished with 27 set assists, eight digs, two kills, and two ace serves.
