SA Christian Lions
August 16, 2011
VOLLEYBALL: SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN OVERTAKES NAVARRO
Lions win final two sets, win match 3-2
by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Senior Writer
The San Antonio Christian Lions had lost two of three sets at Navarro, and trailing the fourth set 24-22, were a point away from a loss.
A Krissy Zaccaria kill, off an Amy Kay Dillon assist, ignited a 6-2 run to close the set, propelling the Lions to a 17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 28-26, 15-10 victory over the Navarro Panthers Tuesday evening.
Britiney Voight provided a kill, a block, and an assist during the rally which closed the fourth set. Voight added two more kills and an ace during the final set.
Navarro won the first set 25-17, enjoying a fine service run by Emma Johnson. Johnson scored six points on her serve, including two aces, to start an 11-2 run which left little doubt the Panthers would take the set.
The second set looked to be similar to first, only in San Antonio Christian’s favor. The Lions (5-3) gradually built their lead to 18-10 before an 11-3 run closed the Panthers within 22-21. The Lions would hold off the Panthers thanks to a kill to Voight and two long Navarro returns. SACS won the set 25-22, tying the match at one.
The Lions roared to an 8-0 lead in the third set on Dillon’s jump serve. Dillon scored two aces and a kill during the rally, but the rest of the set belonged to Navarro. The Panthers scored seven straight points, including six on Calli Allison’s service, to tie the set at 11, then used a 6-0 run, including five points on Gentry Bryan’s service, to take a 21-15 lead. Six different Panthers had kills, and Sadie Bonds contributed five assists. SACS came up short 25-21 despite three aces, seven assists, and a kill from Dillon.
The fourth set, featuring the Lions’ remarkable comeback from the brink of defeat, proved decisive. San Antonio Christian built a 13-9 lead, then fell behind 20-16 after a 11-3 run closed by five straight points off Johnson’s serve, including three aces. Ultimately, the Lions prevailed, led by eight assists and three aces from Dillon.
Navarro (2-4) led 5-3 during the final set, and after a Bryanna Winn kill off a Dillon assist had put SACS ahead 10-7, the Panthers scored three straight to tie the set. But Jordan McManus broke Navarro’s serve with a kill off a Dillon assist, and four more points on Dillon’s serve sent the Lions to victory.
Dillon’s 26 assists and eight aces led all players in both categories; Sarah Fox led the Lions with 13 kills. Bonds (18 assists) and Johnson (13 assists) distributed the ball evenly for Navarro, as five Panthers earned between five and eight kills.
San Antonio Christian and Navarro will each return to action in the Floresville Tournament on Friday.
