Baker outlasts North
There will be bigger and more meaningful matches later in this high school volleyball season, but Tuesday night’s five-game battle between host Ida Baker and North Fort Myers defined the ideals of sportsmanship and great competition.
For an added touch, Baker junior Chelsea Shafer announced the players for both teams, prior to the match. More than two hours later, after an intense, back-and-forth exchange, the Bulldogs prevailed 22-25, 25-12, 25-18, 23-25, 15-12.
“We knew they were great competitors,” Shafer said of North. “We had to play as hard as we could.”
After the Red Knights rallied to force a fifth game, the Bulldogs needed to refocus quickly. They fell behind 3-1, but got a lift from junior Chelsey Cline. She served six straight points, including two aces, to put the Bulldogs ahead 8-3.
On the next point, Shafer attempted a kill that went long. The Bulldogs’ bench argued that the ball was deflected at the net, but the Red Knights received the point. She came right back with a blast to jumpstart the attack, and with a 14-12 lead, Deonnah Findley scored the final point.
“Any time we play (North) it’s always a good game,” Baker coach Jessicah Bullock said. “We won one, we lost one, and then (in game five) we said it’s about time to pick up.”
The Red Knights prevailed in a close opening game. It featured four ties.
North’s Denasia Smith made a block and Alyssa Dougherty recorded an ace to put the Red Knights up 23-18. Baker senior Sarah Godsey served three of her five aces to cut it to 23-22, but the Red Knights held on.
In games two and three, the Bulldogs did a better job running their offense through Findley. The 5-foot-11 junior moved from middle/outside hitter to setter this season and has delivered in that role, including 26 assists Tuesday night.
“That’s the neat thing about her, she is playing a totally different position,” Bullock said. “She has such great heart and a great attitude.”
Shafer was the recipient of the majority of sets, finishing with 13 kills. Junior Taryn Maymon had eight and senior Caitlin Holloway and junior Julia Robery each tallied five.
The Red Knights, who have had a tendency of starting fast and then slowing down, rallied this time in game four.
It resembled the opening game with several ties and lead changes, but Courtney Allen’s shot sent the match to the decisive game.
“It was fun, it was a fun match,” North coach Jeremy Ridgeo said. “I can’t fault them for anything tonight, the way they came back hard. We played a pretty decent Baker team and they got some clutch points in clutch spots.”
Baker (4-2) hosts Mariner Thursday night. North (2-4) returns to the court Monday at Riverdale.