- April 25, 2024
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The momentum for Pirate Nation continues to grow after Matanzas' first football win over Flagler Palm Coast. Having begun the season 0-2, the Lady Pirates faced a confident and undefeated Mainland Lady Buccaneers team in volleyball, and they used a bit of fireworks themselves to to get their first win of the season Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Matanzas.
“Tonight's win meant a lot to the team, not only because it was our first win of the season, but we were able to beat an undefeated team from our district,” said Jillian Bontempo, who seemed to meet every Mainland hitter at the net all night.
After losing two of three sets, Matanzas led in the fourth, only to be caught near the 25-point mark where Mainland forced a deuce. After a Bucs’ blown serve, Matanzas secured another point to force a fifth and final set.
“Pulled out at that point,” coach Julie Menendez. “I said, ‘This is you guys. I can’t do anything from bench; you, as a team, have to do this. So, every time we would pull it in as a timeout, they were talking to each other as a team. It was a team thing.”
In the final set, the Lady Pirates never trailed, using an early 4-0 run to create space that the Lady Bucs could never reel in. The final score was 16-25, 25-17, 12-25, 27-25 and 15-12.
“I’m thrilled because all we’ve heard about was how Mainland was undefeated,” Menendez said. “We’ve been playing strong, but this is only our third game. The girls have been playing up with everybody, which is very exciting. I expected that, so it’s nice to see them do what I expected them to do.”
“Hopefully, this game has boosted their confidence,” she added. “Tomorrow’s a big game, and I know that there’s a history there back and forth, so it will be exciting because we beat them twice last year. I know they don’t think we’re going to beat them twice again, but I’m thrilled that they’re coming to us after our first win, especially over an undefeated team.”
Matanzas and Pirate Nation hopes for another big victory over arch rival, FPC, only this time in volleyball Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Matanzas.
We tend to play and not get over the hump, so it was nice to get over the hump tonight.”-coach Julie Menendez
