BLACKSVILLE — Rarely are we ever afforded the chance at a true redo when something doesn’t go our way.
After being swept by South Harrison in the Region 2, Section 2 championship Wednesday night, the Clay-Battelle volleyball team will get that rare chance with a rematch today at 5:30 p.m.
The CeeBees were in the winners’ bracket of the section tournament, hosted in their home gym this week, and as such, will get a second shot to claim their second consecutive section title against the Hawks in the double elimination bracket.
“You have to forget about this game,” C-B coach Matt Wood said after the loss. “This game’s over and done with. We’ve just got to focus on (Thursday) and prepare for (Thursday) and come back out.”
The CeeBees got off to a slow start in the first set of the match, falling down 11-4 early. They seemed to rebound shortly thereafter and used a 14-1 scoring run to jump ahead 18-12.
The lead would not hold, however, as South Harrison went on a scoring run of their own to go from trailing 23-16 to winning the set 26-24. The Hawks ended the set on a 10-1 run.
Wood said he didn’t know why his team went from playing so well to losing the set the way they did.
“I don’t know, that’s something I’ve got to figure out,” Wood said. We did play well in stretches, there were some really good things that we did. I do think losing that first set took a lot out of us.”
The second set featured another extended scoring run for the visitors as they turned an 8-8 tie into a 22-12 lead. C-B made it interesting with a 7-1 run, but it was ultimately too little, too late, as the Hawks won 25-21.
Finally in the third set, South Harrison jumped out to a 13-5 lead and never looked back, winning 25-18.
“We made some uncharacteristic errors,” Wood said. “We definitely didn’t seem like ourselves tonight. It’s just a rough night.”
Lydia Moore and Cait Patterson led Clay-Battelle with six kills each. Patterson also recorded seven digs, second on the team to Heaven Tennant’s 15. Kendal Saul charted four aces and 10 assists. Hannah Hanlin had five aces with a pair of kills.
Clay-Battelle and South Harrison will battle again for the section crown today at 5:30 p.m. inside Statler-Wilson Gymnasium. As section finalists, both teams have also qualified for Saturday’s regional at Doddridge County.
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