Tabb brushes off comeback attempts by New Kent in four-set volleyball affair

New Kent outside hitter Fallon Greenawalt (11) eyes down the ball to deliver a kill as Tabb defenders McKenzie Smith (left) and Haley Adkins (6) attempt to block it.

Robb Johnson photo

A Sept. 7 battle pitted two of the top teams in the Bay Rivers District as the Tabb Lady Tigers entered New Kent to take on the Lady Trojans. And while the contest was close among both teams, it was the visitors who came up clutch to lock down the victory.

New Kent fell 23-25, 22-25, 25-19, 21-25 in the volleyball battle of two teams who are favored to make an impact in the postseason.

In the opening set, New Kent had trouble stopping Lady Tiger outside hitter Lily Macias. Macias moved back and forth in front of the net, notching one of her kills that sparked a 9-2 run to give the visitors a 22-18 lead. The hosts battled back, tying the game at 23, but an error resulted in them surrendering a point and handing control of the serve back to Tabb. The Lady Tigers didn’t squander it, as another Macias kill clinched the first frame for the visitors.

In the next set, New Kent once again built their lead up 17-12 after an ace by Abby McLaughlin. But the visitors regained their composure, putting together the next points to tie the game at 17 apiece. A spike and score by Lady Trojan Leah Rounds pushed the hosts advantage to two (21-19). But Tabb’s Reese Shiflett’s ace sparked a 6-1 scoring spurt by the Lady Tigers, allowing them to capture set number two.

The hosts were finally able to receive a much-needed momentum shift in the third set. From the get-go, New Kent jumped out to a 7-0 advantage, mostly due to improved blocking and returning of the ball. The hosts kept Tabb in check, being able to capture their first set of the night.

The Lady Trojans looked to push a game into a fourth set, but Tabb wanted to deny that bid. The visitors skyrocketed to a 14-5 lead to begin the series. But the Lady Tigers relaxed a little to early, allowing New Kent to recover and orchestrate a run that brough them within two (23-21) following a violation by the visitors. But that violation would be the last score for the hosts, as Madilyn Pratt delivering a kill for the final point to register on the scoreboard and allow the visitors to emerge with the win.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Stuart Burnett commented that he didn’t doubt the ability of Tabb and was pleased with his team’s performance.

“We were expecting them to be good and I am proud of how we came back in that last game,” he said. “It’s easy to roll over into that fourth game, but the girls never lost confidence.

“We have a tough week next week and the Bay Rivers [District] is not easy by any stretch of the season,” Burnett continued. “Every team is good, and we have to work for every win.”

New Kent’s record drops to 2-2.