Wilson hangs on

FISHERSVILLE —Wilson Memorial coach Kim Claytor could only describe Tuesday’s five-game win over Stonewall one way.

“It was ugly,” she said.

The Green Hornets pulled out the Shenandoah win 25-16, 21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 15-7 but went into the locker room like they had just lost.

“We played the first game the fourth game and the fifth game,” Claytor said. “Don’t ask me where they went in the other games, I have no idea. They started doubting themselves.”

Wilson took the first game easily, but lost the next two. In the fourth Wilson looked to be close to its second district loss of the year, trailing 17-8 but were able to fight back to take the win.

In Game 4 Wilson’s Christine Coffield sparked the rally by slipping a light hit by the Generals’ front line. Stonewall answered with a kill from its power player Heather Stout. Stout caused problems for the Green Hornets most of the night, and accounted for almost half of the scoring in Games 2 and 3 from the Generals offense.

“We knew what we were up against,” Claytor said. “You can’t underestimate anybody and I don’t have an answer to why they played the way they did. Still trying to figure it out. They were asking me questions they knew the answers to.”

With Stonewall in the lead 18-10, Tiffany Crosby hit a kill that was countered with another Stout attack to keep Wilson eight points behind.

Wilson’s Kala Guy had a kill, but hit the ball out of bounds on her serve to give Stonewall a 20-12 lead. Wilson finally started to roll and went on an 8-1 run to pull within one. Taijah Jones missed an attack to end the run, but Stonewall gave the point back when it hit its serve out of bounds.

On the next play, a Green Hornet kill attempt fell close to the line and both officials’ view was obstructed. They called for a replay that sent Claytor into a frenzy and she was dealt a yellow card.

I told them, ‘I got a yellow card, and this needs to be worth something.’ That’s my first yellow card in the five years I’ve been here,” Claytor said.

The spark of life from the bench helped give the Green Hornets the momentum they needed. Wilson took a 24-23 lead, but on match point a Guy attack sailed out of bounds, but Wilson scored the next two points for the win.

In the final game, Wilson won the game easily 15-7.

After the match Claytor said that the team’s mental strength was tested and they would have to step it up to win the Shenandoah District again.

“I’ve always told them they play too hard, not to get the job done,” Claytor said. “They can come from behind, I’ve got all the faith in the world in them.”

Wilson will be back in action on Thursday, hosting Riverheads.