By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — The postseason may officially start next week, but Williamston and Southside got a head start on Thursday when the two Four Rivers Conference teams squared off in a heated volleyball match that featured a playoff-like atmosphere.
Both teams played hard four all four games and had several ups and downs, but in the end it was Tigers that finished on top winning 25-12, 22-25, 25-23, 25-10.
The win had big implications on the conference standings as the victory propelled Williamston to a 16-3 (10-3) record and sole possession of second place with one game left in the regular season.
“We are one game up on Manteo,” Williamston coach Herbie Rogers said. “This was a very important game. In the playoffs if you are No. 2 you play at home and if you are No. 3 you hit the road.”
For the Seahawks (1308, 6-7), the loss came on a day in which they celebrated seniors Caitlyn Bogart, Kristen Ayers, Danyelle Jedlicka, Becky Poole and Jessica Taylor.
The defeat may have temporally dampened their spirits, but the close-knit group will have plenty of time to rebound before their next game.
Southside coach Elizabeth Pruden said the senior bond on her team is strong.
“They do everything together, they hang out together on weekends and do volleyball together. They have been friends since kindergarten,” Pruden said. “I’m going to miss them, they are a great group.”
That group got off to a slow start as it allowed the Tigers to jump out to a 12-6 lead in the first game and never caught up.
Williamston outside hitter Katie Paschal and setter Heather Jackson dominated the first game. The two hooked for several big kills to lead the Tigers to a 25-12 win.
Williamston’s near flawless play did not carry over into the second match. The Tigers execution was lacking as they struggled to get the ball to Paschal.
Southside, led by the play of their five seniors along with juniors Renikia Hodges and Atyana Starkie, seemed to have an answer for every Williamston attack, while limiting its own mistakes.
The two teams tied a total of 10 times, but the Seahawks created some distance late in the match when a Bogart kill made it a 21-17 game. Southside would hold on to that lead to win the match 25-22.
“We started off real slow like we usually do, but we picked it up in the second game and came out strong” Pruden said. “The third game we should have won, but we just gave it away. I don’t know what happen.”
Southside held momentum and small lead for the majority of the third match, but could not close out the game.
The Seahawks’ jumped out to a commanding 18-11 lead after a Starkie ace, but only scored five more points the rest of the way.
Williamston finally recaptured its form from the first match and pieced together a 14-5 run to steal the game. Rachel Baker did a nice job serving for the Tigers. Baker took the ball with the score 18 -14, and when she gave it up the score was locked at 18.
Southside recaptured the lead, but Williamston fought back to tie it at 23. Paschal was great late in the game and scored three of the Tigers’ final four points on ferocious kills to claim a 25-23 win.
The game three victory took the wind out of Southside’s sails. Williamston ran away with the fourth match, jumping out to a 14-4 lead and never looking back.
Southside will close out its regular season Tuesday at Northside, while Williamston will host a Senior Night battle against Roanoke.