Judges rally to defeat Eagles

By Greg Brill -- sports@nvdaily.com

BERRYVILLE -- Kara Dixon had a hunch good things were going to happen for the Handley volleyball team in its match at Clarke County on Monday night.

The Judges were coming off a competitive effort in a three-set loss against Millbrook last week and also had payback in the back of their minds when they took on the Eagles for the second time this season.

With Dixon getting many key kills and digs, Handley rallied around their senior leader to take the last two sets and a 3-2 (12-25, 25-20, 15-25, 25-19, 15-13) win.

"We gave a lot of effort [at Millbrook] but didn't come up with the win, and I think that carried over to tonight," said Dixon, who posted a match-best 13 kills and team-high nine digs against Clarke. "We have a team goal that we want to beat a team that has already beat us. That's a lot of motivation."

The Judges opened their season on Sept. 3 by hosting the Apple Capital Tournament, losing to the Eagles in four sets in the third match of the round-robin format.

Handley looked well on their way to coming out on the short end again, getting pounded by double-digits in the first set Monday before doing a complete about-face and building a big lead in the second set and holding on to even the match at one set apiece.

A couple of 1-point leads was all Handley managed in the third set, but the Judges stayed close until Clarke County got its attacks rolling again, getting kills from four different players and seven total late to pull away for another lopsided win.

Throughout the match, Handley's defense had to withstand the attacks of Amy Hagerdon, Molly Keesling, and Chelsea Nelson.

Things began to take a turn in the fourth set. The Eagles built an 8-4 lead off a kill from Amelia Eyles, but the Judges allowed only three kills during their 10-5 run to take a 14-13 lead and force a timeout from Clarke County. Down the stretch, the Judges played inspired and allowed only two more kills in the set. Dixon had two crucial kills, including a hit that slid along the net and dropped for set-point to force a fifth set.

"I think they definitely improved a lot in their defense," Clarke setter Leslie Conner said. "They were picking up a lot of hits that we threw at them. I know they were hitting a lot harder [too] because they knew what they were up against this time."

When Handley played well last season, it was usually due to its extra-effort on defense. This time around Handley has had to build confidence in an area coach Lindsay Hazelette said was the team's "weakness" coming into this season, after the graduation of several back-row standouts.

But facing top-flight hitters from Millbrook and Clarke County has helped her team grow over the last few matches, Hazelette believes.

"We're just trying to keep it alive and work with our positioning on defense," the second-year coach said. "It's just the motivation to keep the ball in play."

Handley built off its fourth-set win, taking a 4-0 lead to open the fifth set before Clarke County scored the next seven points to force the Judges to talk things over. Nelson, who led the Eagles with 11 kills, hit through a double-block for a 3-point lead.

The Eagles (5-4) appeared to be in good shape, getting two more kills from Hagerdon to open a 10-6 lead. Then it all came together for the Judges (4-3), with a little help from Clarke County.

Both Dixon and Lauren Wingfield got kills, and an ace by Dixon tied the set at 11. It would also be tied at 12 and 13, the last time on a well-placed kill to the back right-corner by Keesling (eight kills).

But Conner sent her next serve long, and Nelson did the same with an attack, and the Judges could celebrate their comeback.

"In the third set we played really well, really sharp," Clarke coach Mary Brune said. "Then in the fourth set we started hitting out and [Handley] never quit. They stayed focused and kept attacking. And we stopped attacking. It showed."

The Eagles gave away six points in the final set, including four attack errors.

"Our hits should have been in the firepit [middle], as we call it," said Conner, who handed out 28 assists in the loss. "It should have been there every time, but we got too much momentum hitting it out and everything."

Dixon was happy her teammates had the focus when it counted most, and knows their will to survive will help the team build.

"It was kind of nerve-wracking, but I think we just stuck it out," Dixon said. "I'm really proud of the way we come back and got it at the end."

Adding support for Handley were Delaney Deavers and Alexandra Bazdar (six kills apiece), Emma Sweeney (three blocks) and Diana Kellam (14 assists).

The Eagles received a double-double (10 kills and 10 digs) from Hagerdon.