The Bainbridge Spartans fell 3-2 to Sequim on their home court Sept. 28.
Despite taking a 2-0 lead, the Spartans failed to execute and dropped three straight sets.
Spartans’ defense led the team to win the first two sets. In the first set, Bainbridge took a 14-6 lead because of multiple kills from middle blockers Isabel White and Holley McFadden. The duo also blocked several shots from Sequim’s outside hitters, boosting their lead to 21-12. Sequim rallied but not enough to come back, falling 25-17.
Sequim took an early 4-1 lead in the second set. Yet, libero Emma Pendleton became the hero for the Spartans. Pendleton made multiple diving saves, including a dig that nearly sent her through the doors of the gym.
Bainbridge and Sequim battled back and forth, before tying 24-24. The Spartans ended up taking the second set 26-24 on two controversial calls. The 25th point came on a close out-of-bounds call from Sequim’s Kendall Hastings kill. The 26th point was another out-of-bounds call that potentially tipped one of the Spartans’ fingers. However, the referees decided it did not and the Spartans won the set.
Sequim took the next two sets, taking a 13-6 lead in the third. Bainbridge’s defense fell apart, giving up aces on communication issues and cross-court kills. Although Bainbridge sparked an offense, Sequim came away with a 25-20 win.
Sequim dominated the fourth set, scoring eight of the first 10 points and winning 25-12.
In the deciding set, the Spartans took an early 3-1 lead. However, Sequim responded and captured a 9-5 lead before Bainbridge called a timeout. The Spartans came out of the timeout with urgency, tying the game at 10-10. Yet, Sequim had the final word, winning the fifth set 15-11.