After a 12-4 start to the season, Strawberry Crest volleyball dropped two of three to end the month of September with a 3-0 victory over Leto between a 3-1 loss to Steinbrenner and a 3-2 loss to Wharton. Looking to get back into the win column on Monday, the road didn’t get any easier as the Chargers made their way to Riverview to face a 7-1 Sharks squad — dropping the match in three consecutive sets to fall to 13-7 on the year.
Opening the match strong, the Chargers quickly raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Riverview was able to answer with 10 consecutive points to take a commanding 10-3 lead before Crest was able to stop the Sharks’ run and cut into the deficit at 12-5. As the Sharks continued to score, Crest did their best to stay alive in the set as a kill from senior Savannah Schwarz cut the Sharks lead down to 18-9, followed by another point from Schwarz and a stellar block from Schwarz and junior Ashlynn Miller to narrow the gap to 18-11. After a long rally put Riverview up 21-13, the set looked nearly out of reach but the Chargers responded with a valiant rally of their own. The Chargers scored to make it 22-15, Riverview answered for 23-16, an unbelievable save from Miller kept the play alive before the Chargers scored and cut the deficit to 23-17. Riverview scored the next point to take a 24-17 lead and bring themselves just one point away from taking the set but Crest responded with seven consecutive points to knot the set at 24-24 and force a win-by-two scenario. Riverview gained the advantage at 25-24 and the Chargers continued to battle before the Sharks ultimately took the set 28-26.
In the second set, Riverview opened with a 3-0 lead and the Chargers were able to battle back and cut the lead to 3-2 for the moment, but the Sharks proved too strong for Crest as they quickly rattled off an 8-2 run to take an 12-4 lead. A strong block from Schwarz ended the Sharks’ run to leave the set at 12-5. From that point on, the Chargers were resilient and able to go point-for-point with Riverview for the remainder of the set, but were unable to find any extended success like they did in the first set and ultimately fell into a 2-0 hole on the heels of a 25-15 second set.
Moving to the third set, the Chargers once again found themselves behind early as Riverview opened with a 5-0 run to start the final set. Looking to fight back, a kill from senior Gabrielle Friebolin cut the Riverview lead to 9-5, but the Sharks never allowed the result to come into doubt as they responded with a run of their own. With their backs against the wall, trailing 24-15, Crest was able to notch three consecutive points but one decisive strike from Riverview clinched the 3-0 victory for the Sharks.
The Chargers faced Sumner on Wednesday night and will finish their regular season next Wednesday as they host 1-8 Blake.
Across town, Durant sits at 7-7 as they prepare to finish their regular season against 5-6 Freedom and 12-8 Newsome while 7-4 Plant City will end their year against 3-7 Hillsborough and 0-8 Brandon.