Flagler Palm Coast volleyball team rallies from two sets down against Matanzas to win five-set thriller

The Bulldogs won their 11th match in a row and avenged their only loss of the season.

  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Sports
  • Share

The Flagler Palm Coast volleyball team was down 2-0 to Matanzas when Bulldogs coach Lindsey Stewart told her team to break the match down to its smallest component.

“I just told them that we got to come back and fight for every point, and they did,” Stewart said. “It's all about the next one ball, then the next one ball, one point at a time. Our focus went from winning the whole game to the next point. That's when your team starts to thrive because you have to look at the smaller picture before you can see the big picture.”

The Bulldogs won the next three sets to win a thrilling five-set match, 3-2 on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the FPC gym.

FPC improved to 14-1 with its 11th consecutive victory and avenged its only loss of the season, which also went to a fifth set on Aug. 25 at Matanzas.

“I think that they wanted that rematch from the first game so bad that they were determined to get every single next point,” Stewart said of her players.


“ I just told them that we got to come back and fight for every point, and they did. Our focus went from winning the whole game to the next point.— LINDSEY STEWART, FPC volleyball coach

FPC senior co-captain Grace Taylor, who played for Matanzas as a freshman, had a solid all-around game with 18 kills, 25 digs and 26 assists, all team-highs.

“This was really our arrival,” Taylor said. “Yeah, it's another game, but there's a different level of adrenaline that comes from a rival game, and, win or lose, I think both teams played really well. I think that's what made it such a good game.”

After losing two close sets, 23-25 and 21-25, FPC handily won the third set, 25-16. The Pirates (9-4) led the fourth set 21-19 before the Bulldogs battled back to win 25-23 to set up the decisive fifth set.

Matanzas was a point away from winning the fifth set and the match at 14-13, but FPC won the final three points to take the come-from-behind triumph, 16-14.

“It was like nothing was hitting the floor. I'm just really pumped that we won,” Taylor said. “You don't quit. We might not always start the strongest, but we'll pick it up. And when we do. It doesn't stop.”

Senior libero and co-captain Kaitlyn Ebding had four aces and 23 digs for FPC, while Victoria Fraiden had four blocks, Peyton Smith had 13 kills and setter Tatum Hamilton added 20 assists.

“Our defense in my opinion is one of the best [in the area],” Stewart said. “Kaitlyn from the first day that I met her to train her, she  was tiny, she was scared. And now she has blossomed into this captain, a libero who is everywhere and anywhere all at once. I am so proud of her. And Grace Taylor's always an athlete. She does it all. She continues to do it all.”

In the days leading up to the match with the Pirates, the Bulldogs defeated Mainland, Spruce Creek, University and Deltona to clinch the Five Star Conference Even Bracket title and secure a spot in the conference championship game against DeLand, which won the Odd Bracket title. That game will be Oct. 6 at DeLand.

 

×

Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning local news.