By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Saturday, Sept. 23, the PIHS Lady Tarpons hosted a district best-of-five series match against the Hidalgo Lady Pirates. After four hard-fought games, the visiting Lady Pirates beat the Lady Tarpons 3-1. The Lady Tarpons did have their moments, but at the end of the day, they were overmatched.
The Lady Pirates started the game one with an 8-1 lead as the Lady Tarpons had a tough time returning the ball and blocking shots at the net. After a Hidalgo serve, PI returned the ball. As Hidalgo set the ball up for their hitter, PI’s Valery Gonzalez met the hitter at the net and rejected the ball earning a point for PI.
Chelsea Gonzalez then served the ball into play for PI and both teams went on a long rally. Unfortunately, the Lady Pirates eventually found a hole in the Lady Tarpons’ defense and scored on a spike as they extended their lead to 9-2.
As the Lady Pirates served the ball into play, the teams went into a small rally with V. Gonzalez scoring for PI. With Kimberlie Estrada serving, PI went on a 5-0 run and cut Hidalgo’s lead down to 9-8. On a side note, Estrada had a nice “Ace” during that span.
After the teams traded points, PI’s Kimberly Barrera was up next to serve. As Hidalgo returned the ball over the net, PI’s Emily Burrage jumped up in the air and spiked the ball with authority to tie the game up at 10-10.
The teams went back and forth trading points as Hidalgo went up 16-14. After a hit out of bounds by the Hidalgo, Nadia Flaig went to serve for PI. Flaig had two nice serves that Hidalgo wasn’t able to return which gave PI its first lead of the game, 18-16.
Hidalgo came back to tie the game up at 21-21. The Lady Pirates were called for a carry and PI’s Estrada was up again to serve the ball. The Lady Tarpons scored under Estrada but were unable to return the ball on her second serve as PI hung on to a 23-22 lead.
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