CALEDONIA — Caledonia girls volleyball had just taken a 16-15 lead in the second set Thursday after New Hope won a close first set, 25-23.
What looked like momentum towards the Trojans had shifted toward the Cavaliers, but senior outside hitter Madyson McBrayer had other ideas in mind.
She rattled off two kills in the span of a few points, including the dagger of the set, a perfectly placed ball down the line that put New Hope ahead, 21-16, forcing Caledonia to call a timeout.
McBrayer and the Trojans (2-0) went on to win that second set, 25-17, as they went on to defeat the Cavaliers (2-2) in four sets. Set scores were 25-23, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-20.
“I was seeing a lot of fight from (my teammates),” McBrayer said. “We don’t lay down ever, but that fight just raised up as soon as we play (Caledonia) always. It’s just a fight from this team no matter what.”
Even with New Hope taking the first set, at that point, it didn’t feel like either team had gained a significant advantage over the other in the match.
However, that 10-1 run to end the second set swung the match in New Hope’s favor, which they quickly carried over into Set 3.
The Trojans started out the set with a 10-2 run as the student section, which traveled well to Caledonia for the match, began singing the chorus of Steam’s 1969 hit, ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’ to the Caledonia student section across the gym.
That’s when the Cavaliers began to claw back into the match, going on several big runs to win the set and get the match to 2-1.
“This is one of the toughest matches we’ll play all year,” Caledonia head coach Samantha Brooks said. “… When you’re down two sets, it’s really hard to come back, but they did and that just shows the grit they have, the fight they have in them, and it’s really exciting to see, being that this is the beginning of the season.”
Like New Hope at the beginning of the third set, Caledonia rode momentum into the majority of the fourth set, but with a few unforced errors, specifically hitting errors, the Trojans capitalized, going from down 20-16 late to finishing the match on a 9-0 run.
After Tuesday’s season-opening victory against Starkville, New Hope head coach Allison Woolbright talked about the importance of this week.
Playing two local rivals who are going to play at their best presented quite a difficult opening week to the season, but now, the Trojans are 2-0 heading into the weekend.
“It’s good, but everybody’s going to get better,” Woolbright said. “Everybody’s going to keep playing, so the next time we play them, it’s going to be just as competitive. It sets a good tone and I’m proud, but at the same time, we gotta go in there every day and work.”
This local rivalry brought out the best in both teams, with great rallies, fantastic point-saving digs and lots of energy — not just from both benches but from both sets of fans inside Caledonia’s main gym.
When it looked like one team was out of it, sure enough, they found a way back into the set and vice versa, but stellar play from New Hope’s outside hitters and setters made the biggest difference in the end.
“It doesn’t matter who’s on top, who’s not on top, what our records are, it’s always a very competitive game,” Woolbright said. “It’s kind of a mental thing for our girls because it’s a close rivalry and a lot of the girls have friends or play club with kids on Caledonia. It’s very intense for everyone.”
It will be another two months or so before the next time these two programs face each other, and like how this match held extra importance to getting off on the right foot this season, their final meeting of the year on Oct. 4 is each team’s regular-season finale.
The match will be held at New Hope and should be another barn-burner — just like Thursday was.
Other scores
Prep volleyball
Meridian 3, West Lowndes 1
Prep softball
Starkville Academy 20, Heritage Academy 0, three innings
STARKVILLE — The Starkville Academy softball team was enough to handle Heritage Academy on Thursday — and then some.
The Volunteers put up 10 runs in each of their two innings at the plate, run-ruling the Patriots 20-0 in three innings.
Calliope Koiva led the Vols with three hits and three RBIs. Browning Hughes had two hits and drove in three runs.
Koiva struck out six Patriots in her three innings in the circle.
Starkville Academy will play at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Bayou Academy.
Heritage Academy will play in a tournament Saturday at Indianola Academy.
Prep girls soccer
Lamar School 4, Heritage Academy 0
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