Lee Trawick
reporter2@riverbendnews.org
The Suwannee Bulldogs varsity volleyball team traveled to Branford on Monday, Aug. 28, to take on the undefeated Buccaneers. The Suwannee girls were coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Madison Cowgirls. Meanwhile. the Bucs carried an untainted 5-0 record on the season, only dropping one of 11 sets; their record includes wins over higher-class schools, such as Valdosta, Lowndes County and Columbia.
The Bucs imposed their will early in the match, beginning with their bombastic entrance into the gymnasium; with the lights turned low and the music blaring, the Branford girls busted through the door with glow-in-the-dark gadgets and a mighty roar from the crowd. The Dogs were immediately put on notice; it would not be a friendly match. The Suwannee girls understood the type of game they were walking into, and had prepared themselves for a tough, non-stop battle.
However, the Buccaneers were able to jump out to an early lead, 4-1, in the first set. Despite the outstanding efforts of Jordyn Chandler, Rachel Smith and company, the Bulldogs could not establish any offensive rhythm. They found themselves reacting and out of position against the onslaught of attacks. The first set appeared one- sided in favor of the Buccaneers, as they defeated the Dogs, 25-10. The Bulldogs had no answers for Saje Adams's serve or the constant kills from flying hitters Kennedy Walker, Madison Ward and Jadyn Mosley. Andi Sabourin orchestrated her team's attack like a well-versed veteran playing chess. She appeared to keep her team one step ahead of anything the Dogs tried to do in the first set.
However, in the second set, the Bulldogs regrouped and jumped out to an early lead; Erin Kirby, Jordyn Chandler, Rachel Smith and the rest refused to give into the Bucs' will. With a 7-4 lead, Branford called a timeout, allowing Sabourin and company to catch their breath and regain their focus. Again, Adams took over with her serve and evened the score, 7- 7, before the Dogs managed to hold them off from reclaiming the lead. Shortly after, with the score tied 10-10, Sabourin called on power-hitter Mosely. She rushed the net with her intimidating presence to softly pop the ball over the Bulldogs' front-line defenders for the Bucs' first lead of the set. They eventually closed it out, 25-18, over Suwannee.
With the opening of the third set, the Dogs set their sights on playing for pride. They knew the odds were stacked against them, as they were already trailing by two sets, so they focused on winning one point at a time and letting the results fall where they may. Kirby and Smith took it upon themselves to boost their team's energy. The Bulldogs showed grit in their efforts and, for the first time of the night, they were playing with a sense of urgency – the match was on the line.
The Dogs quickly jumped out to another lead, just as they had in the second set, and seemed to briefly find a hole in the Bucs' defense. Trailing by a score of 8-5, the Branford girls called for a timeout to adjust. Much like with the second set, they returned with the mission of evening the score, which they accomplished by tying the game 8-8. The Bulldogs answered by regaining their lead, 12-8, from a power surge from Chandler and Smith at the net. It was at this time the Buccaneers called their second timeout.
The Dogs' efforts appeared to offend Sabourin, as she willed her team to retake control of the match, infusing the Bucs with a sense of intensity and focus. The Buccaneers again came out of the timeout scoring four straight points to tie the game, 12-12. However, the Suwannee girls had made up their minds; they would not back down or be intimidated by their opposition's power. They continued to fight and hold their ground without giving up the lead; that is, until Adams again took over with her serve, scoring three straight aces to regain the lead for Branford.
The Bulldogs were backed into a corner with no easy way out, trailing 17-15, when Ansleigh Kelley led them with her serve to four straight points, reclaiming the lead, 19-17. However, despite several lengthy volleys between the two teams, the Bucs and Dogs inevitably found themselves tied, 21-21. At this time, both teams were sacrificing their bodies on the floor, diving for kills and playing for the win. On the Bulldogs' side, despite Smith being an offensive powerhouse, she seemed to position herself on the defensive side of the ball to handle the Bucs' attack. At the same time, Branford’s Erica Rioux rose to the top for her team, playing stellar defense all over the court and answering every attack made.
With the score again tied, 24-24, the Dogs went for the kill, orchestrated by their setter Paula Golub to Chandler, who flew above the net to spike the ball through the Buccaneers' defense, taking the lead, 25-24. For the first time of the night, the Bucs showed they were against the ropes, an unusual spot for them early in the season. With the Bulldogs one point away from closing out the set, the Buccaneers attacked the net, forcing another lengthy volley until the Dogs suffered a self-inflicting error. The score was once again tied, 25-25.
Adams picked up the ball for the Buccaneers and walked behind the serving line. She calmly dribbled the ball in front of her, slowly looked up at the Bulldogs' defense with confidence, and tossed the serve before hitting a line drive. The cut through Suwannee's defense gave the Branford girls another ace, and brought the score to 26-25. With the game on the line, Adams attacked the Dogs' defense. This time, they received her serve and returned the volley, only to see Sabourin call for Kayley Johnson on the right side of the Bucs' attack. Johnson did not disappoint, flying high above the net for the final kill, ultimately ending the Bulldogs' night, 27-25, to take the match in three straight sets, 3-0.