BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford volleyball team won the first two sets in Tuesday’s Class A showdown, but visiting Deering would win the next two games to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
The Tigers would rebound from the dissapointing third and fourth sets to take the fifth game 15-10 as they improved to 9-3 on the season.
“I’m very proud of these girls. They’re finally getting to a point that they believe in themselves. Early in the season, they would get a couple points down and they basically would drop the points and then drop the game without a lot of emotion. I’m so proud because I’ve just been trying to teach them to play with emotion and that’s how they played. You just keep going for it and they’re finally coming through,” said Biddeford head coach Ruth Shaw.
Biddeford won the first two sets 25-19 and 25-18, before Deering took the next two sets 25-21 and 25-17.
The first set was neck-and-neck until Renee Dutremble served up seven points within the set and cemented the Tigers lead.
The second set was another back-and-forth battle. After being tied with Deering, Brooke Reissfelder served up five points to help the Tigers take the lead 19-16. Gracie Martin secured the second set victory by serving up five points to produce a final 25-18 score.
The Rams (8-4) would turn the tide in the third set as they started their stretch of two straight wins.
The third set was the most competitive set between the Tigers and visiting Rams. Elizabeth Sevigny served up six points for the Rams. The Tigers answered when Lexi Matteau won five straight points but they were still short when the final 25-21 score was produced.
The Rams went on three long serving sprees to capture the fourth set. Madison Broda served up five points to cement the Ram’s lead. Sevigny was at the serve for two separate five-point runs to produce the 25-17 score.
“The only reason we let things go, there were a couple of times during the rallies where we weren’t getting our pass to our setter and therefore we couldn’t get the big hits that we were looking for. When we get the pass and we get that nice set, it’s pretty much over,” said Shaw.
Martin believes that the Tigers didn’t keep their foot on the gas in the third and fourth sets.
“I think we lost focus. We were up two games, we didn’t get cocky but we got comfortable and we didn’t finish, but we came back eventually,” said Martin.
The fifth set was filled with emotion as Reissfelder scored the first three points to put the Tigers in the lead. Matteau would serve up another three points to help produce the final 15-10 triumph.
“Coach fired us up in the huddle and we were like, ‘we got this.’ After those first three points, we got off to a good start and we were ready to go,” said Martin. “It was a long game. There’s a lot of emotion and ups and downs in this game and I thought we battled through it well and played as a team.”
This was the first fifth set that the Tigers have faced — and Shaw believes it was a beneficial experience.
“I think all-and-all I’m glad we went five games, although I’m exhausted. I’m glad we went five games because it tells them that they can recover. They can win two, lose two and win the next one,” said Shaw.
Martin had 21 kills and Grace Boisvert had four aces to lead Biddeford.
Biddeford will travel to Scarborough on Thursday for their next game.
— Sports Writer Sienna Barstow can be reached at [email protected] or at 780-9018. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.