NORTHSIDE MOVES TO 3-0 IN 7A-CENTRAL

Northside lost its chance at a sweep but the Lady Bears kept on their hot streak to start 7A-Central play.

After falling in a marathon second set to Mount St. Mary, the Lady Bears responded by taking the next two sets to win Thursday's conference match in four (25-21, 30-32, 25-20, 25-15) at Kaundart-Grizzly Fieldhouse. Northside (6-1, 3-0) also continues its strong start to the season.


The Lady Bears had four players with double-digit kills (Chloe Fitzgerald 14, Alexis Evans 13, Alexa Scott 12 and Emma Kate Fitzgerald 10) and four with double-digit digs (Sydney Green 31, Scott 18, Aliyah Hall 17 and Emily Beallis 10).

"We were very balanced and really getting after them," Northside coach Matt Waack said. "(Emma Kate Fitzgerald) also had 60 assists and that tells you how our offense was running (Thursday), which is nice. We also had four girls in double digits in digs, too, our defense was on. We played really well.

"We had a little lull early in Game 2 and that's what got us. We came out slow but we fought back hard, obviously pushing that game to that scoring point was nice; I was glad to see them fight, and that's why I think we came out in Game 3 and 4 and really took charge."

In their second-set loss, the Lady Bears rallied from an early 9-2 hole and had five set points before MSM fought back each time. The Lady Bears then proceeded to jump out to an 8-1 lead in the third set, and after MSM got within a point (15-14), Northside went on a 6-1 run and later built a 23-16 lead off back-to-back kills from Evans and Chloe Fitzgerald.

Then trailing 10-9 in the fourth set, Northside reeled off eight straight points. Evans made three straight kills for points, and Scott had two aces as part of the run, with her last ace giving the Lady Bears a 17-10 advantage. Nakia Willis had two kills and Beallis served an ace as Northside scored four straight points to close out the match.

"(Prior to the third set, Waack) told us to play defense and serve-receive so that we can run our offense and get big hits," Evans said. "We got better passes and E.K. (Emma Kate Fitzgerald) set me better, adjusted to the blockers and I just did what I had to do."

Evans also finished with three blocks. Willis added eight kills.

In the opening set, Northside went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back aces from Hall, to take a 16-10 lead. MSM got within two (21-19) before Evans had a kill then an ace to help the Lady Bears take it.

Photo Credits: Buck Ringgold