By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
First-year Northside coach Mandi McGaha urged her team to play with intensity leading up to the Panthers matchup with the Pam Pack, and her team responding by topping Washington 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 on Thursday.
“Last night after we lost and I talked to the team and told them this game was going to be a lot about who wants it more,” McGaha said. “I don’t really know much about Washington, but I come from a place where cross town rivalries are a big deal. I thought it would be a matter of heart, so we talked today about being passionate and playing with our whole hearts.”
The team did just that as strong serves from Jordan Cooke and Sarah Credle helped push the Panthers (4-2, Four Rivers) over the Pam Pack as well as a strong effort at the net from Rachel Hollowell, Jordan Woolard, Daniel Oliver and Caroline Slade.
“I was real proud of Rachel Hollowell, Jordan Woolard and Caroline Slade. I thought that they, and Daniel Oliver, did a good job of finding holes in the defense,” McGaha said.
Washington (0-4, Coastal) had fought hard on Thursday and midway through the first game was down by the score of 15-12. However, Cooke grabbed the ball and led Northside on a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach.
In the second game, the Pam Pack hung around late and tied Northside at 17. After a Robin Lilley kill, the Pack trailed only 21-20, but could only muster one point the rest of the game.
The third match was more of the same for Washington, who has not won a game or a match this season despite playing a non-conference schedule packed with 1-A teams.
Northside got a good effort from Rachel Hollowell and Jordan Woolard up front, as well as Daniel Oliver and Caroline Slade.
After the game Washington coach Tara Hunter said the team’s biggest issue is communication.
“We have to call the ball,” Hunter said. “We have to call the ball and talk, that’s the only thing that’s holding us back.”
Hunter did say she was happy with her team’s effort.
“We tried to rally,” Hunter said. “Even after losing two they tried to rally and didn’t lay down and die.”
The Pam Pack got good efforts from net players Lilley, Haley Hiatt, Jazzmin Gibbs and Hannah Sandy, while Michelle Hodges, Sydney Gurkin, Sarah Nicholls each did a nice job of passing and running down balls.
Washington will be back in action on Tuesday at home against Southside, while Northside will host Perquimans.