By Carla Branch
alexandrianews.org
Senior, Miranda Branch. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Last night, the T. C. Williams High School volleyball team traveled to Annandale to play the Atoms. The Titans lost, 3-2.
Anyone who watches volleyball knows that it is a game of spurts. Last night’s match between the Titans and Atoms demonstrated that in spades. From the first serve, the Atoms took a four point lead and the Titans played catch-up for the remainder of the game. Finally, the T. C. tied the game at 24 and went on to win, 25-24.
The second game began much as the first, with the Atoms taking the lead, 5-0. The Titans never recovered and lost, 25-19. The tug-of-war continued in the third game but this time it was the Titans who took the early lead and never looked back. They won, 25-16. The fourth game was a see-saw affair with the Atoms finally winning, 25-22. Neither team ever had control of the fifth and tie-break game. The Atoms won, 17-15.
“All I can say is that it was an awesome game. I am so glad that the girls did not give up,” said T. C. Coach Rhea Butler. “I was especially proud of Miranda Branch who truly played her best. She was so focused and used such strategy during the game. She is the most consistent player on the team. She is definitely going places with college volleyball.
“Natalie Brown is another player who is consistent and has been making much smarter plays as a middle hitter. Meron Hailu was phenomenal… our main setter Rebecca Stone is out on injury and Meron stepped up and played her best. I also was impressed with Kate Whitmire who always makes that finishing play to keep us alive.
“We were very confident and wanted to win, although we came up short, I was so proud of the girls. It is important to win games in three, having to play to five makes it anyones game,” Butler said.
Branch landed 28 of 30 hits with 15 kills. Ninety-four percent of her serves were in play, 14 of which were aces. She was five for five for sets, and one set resulted in a kill.
The Titans are in action in the All City Tournament this Friday and Saturday night at St. Stephens/St. Agnes School. Game times are at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. both nights with all four City high schools competing.
