By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
FAUCETT - East Buchanan dominated the first set, had a lapse in the second, dominated the third and had match point in the fourth - only to fall to Mid-Buchanan 26-24.
The Dragons got off to a 4-2 start in set five, but the Bulldogs reeled off an 8-0 run to eventually win the fifth set 15-10 and win the match 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-10) at Mid-Buchanan High School Thursday night.
It's the tenth straight win for East Buchanan (17-2-1), who went 5-0 in the Lathrop Invitational this past Saturday - one of those wins being a 2-1 decision against the Dragons.
"Just, the more aggressive team won each set," East Buchanan head coach Ryan Horn said of Thursday's match. "I know that seems easy to say it, but it was just that simple at times."
The first set started back-and-forth. With East Buchanan leading 14-13, Horn called timeout, and his team reeled off an 11-4 run to win set one 25-17.
Set two was nearly a complete swing for Mid-Buchanan (9-7-1), as the Dragons started that frame on an 8-2 run and won it 25-20 to knot the match at a set apiece.
Senior middle Mallie Lieffring, who led the Dragons with 16 kills, seven blocks and three aces Thursday, had five kills in the second set alone. Senior Hailey Clark had four kills, a block and an ace in the second set as well.
Set three was all East Buchanan, as the Bulldogs raced out to a 6-1 lead. Then, they led 14-5 and they won it 25-16. Senior Maya Watkins came alive for East Buchanan in set three with six kills. Fellow senior Brooklyn Adams had four kills in the third set as well.
"Our passing picked up," Horn said. "Setter put the ball in the right spot, Maya started getting those kills. Our energy picked up. Usually when your energy picks up, your communication gets a little bit better. So, we'll take it."
Set four was pretty much anybody's game. Mid-Buchanan led in the fourth 21-17, but the Bulldogs managed to tie it and had match point at 24-23, but Lieffring reeled off two kills and a block consecutively to give the fourth set to the Dragons at 26-24.
That momentum seemed to carry over for Mid-Buchanan in the fifth set, as the Dragons got off to a 4-2 start, but East Buchanan would not be denied. The Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run to lead 10-4 and that would be enough to ultimately close things out.
Watkins led her team Thursday with 19 kills, two aces and two blocks.
"We just knew the ball couldn't drop, no matter what," Watkins said. "We knew we had to get there. There was no excuses. I knew the ball was coming, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't let my teammates down."
Junior Holly Caylor also had 19 kills and an ace for East Buchanan.
"We're finally getting to see a healthy version of her," Horn said of Caylor, who had surgery to fix back problems over the summer. "She was second-team all conference last year, and I think she's starting to play like that now."
Adams had eight kills for the Bulldogs, as did sophomore Rilyn Sherwood.
Clark was impressive for Mid-Buchanan with 11 kills, three blocks and an ace. Sophomore Gracie Smith had five kills. Senior Maddie McKnight had five total blocks.
East Buchanan heads to Bishop LeBlond Monday. Mid-Buchanan plays in the Bedford Invitational Saturday.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.