Spartans show resilience against PA

By Nicholas Zeller-Singh Bainbridge Island Review • October 25, 2023 1:30 am

The Bainbridge Spartans completed their final home vollleyball game of the season with a 3-0 victory against Port Angeles Oct. 24, including coming back from a 15-5 deficit in the second set.

Bainbridge blazed to a 3-0 lead on Rollins Anderson’s aces. The Roughriders responded with a handful of kills but Holley McFadden earned a few kills and Noella Rosentrater earned an ace to make it 10-4 for BHS.

The Spartans rolled through the rest of the first set as all attacking options were successful, winning 25-11 on a McFadden kill.

Port Angeles switched the momentum early in the second set though. “When we jump to a big lead, we just reset,” coach Andy Stephens said. “When there are so many things that went wrong for a team, they think let’s start over. That is when we run into issues when teams reset and come back at us.”

The Roughriders took a 7-0 lead with a pair of aces and a few kills. Bainbridge earned its first two points on a couple of service errors. Stephens called a timeout when Bainbridge trailed 15-5. “I told them absolutely nothing,” he said. “I just wanted them to chip away. Otherwise, there is too much in their head.”

The Spartan middle blockers began to disrupt the Port Angeles offense. Isabell White and Maia Greiwe earned a few kills and blocks each during an 11-point run. “They wanted to win it for their seniors,” Stephens said. “We have had two double-digit comebacks this season. They are understanding resilience and how to battle.”

The Spartans battled back and won the set 25-22 when Anderson and White blocked a kill attempt.

Bainbridge and Port Angeles battled back and forth in the final set. Neither team had a larger lead than four points until the Spartans’ final run. Bainbridge rallied for eight of the last 12 points to win the third set 25-18.

“We can be down and still come back,” Stephens said. “We are never out of a game whether we are down by ten or up by twelve. These tough games help us know we can play with anybody.”