By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — Williamston’s seven-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday as the Tigers dropped a five-set heartbreaker to Perquimans 26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13.
Williamston battled hard with its fellow Four Rivers Conference foe, as neither team was able to run away with a match throughout all five sets.
The Tigers (7-1, 2-1) were led by a fantastic night by setter Heather Jackson and outside hitter Katie Paschal, while the Pirates (4-1, 3-0) where guided by the dominating net play of Quinyotta Pettaway and the solid game of setter Rachel Phthisil.
With the exception of the second set, no game was won by more than three points. In the end Williamston coach Herbie Rogers said the team’s serving played a pivotal role in its wins and losses.
“I thought when we served well we were able to score,” Rogers said. “When we didn’t serve well, and there were critical times we didn’t serve well, it cost us.”
The two teams were intense from the start, but the Pirates were able to hold on to win the first set as they distanced themselves with an 8-1 run early, and played solid defense in the end to win 26-24.
The Tigers answered back with some good serving and strong teamwork. With Paschal serving the ball, Williamston rattled off a 9-0 run and at one point took a 13-5 lead. That advantage was the biggest of the day for either team.
Perquimans never caved, and showed some life at the end, but did not have enough fire power to over take the Tigers.
The game kept up its feverish pace in the third set. Williamston jumped out to take a 2-0 lead, but would never hold an advantage the rest of the set. The Tigers tied the Pirates at 7-7 and 8-8, but could not take the next step as they lost 25-22.
Perquimans held momentum for a majority of the fourth set, but Williamston never let it get the game get too far away. The Tigers briefly held a 12-11 lead, but the Pirates kept a steady three-point lead up until the waning moments of the set.
A Meredith Robertson ace put in motion a 5-0 run by the Tigers in which a 21-19 deficit turned into a 24-21 lead.
Paschal dominated in that stretch as she scored on four straight kills.
“For us to score Katie has to hit the ball well,” Rogers said. “And at that time she was.”
The Tigers’ win set up a fifth and final set which was played with the same fire and intensity as the previous four.
The teams tied at scores of 1-1, 2-2, 5-5, 6-6, 11-11 and 13-13 before the Pirates reeled off the final two points.
Pettaway helped seal the deal for Perquimans as she nailed a key kill down the stretch and ended the game with an ace.
Williamston will look to bounce back on Tuesday when it plays conference rival Plymouth on the road.