Comebacks derail Little Giants victory

Comebacks were not the Little Giants' best friends against Spotswood on Tuesday.
Once Waynesboro made a run for it, a simple mistake was there to ruin the moment as the Trailblazers swept the Little Giants 25-18, 25-21, 25-19.
"It's like we find times to play and once we get on a run we lose the momentum," said Waynesboro coach Lori Aleshire. "We lose all focus."
In Game 3, there were signs of new life when Waynesboro jumped out to a 5-1 lead over Spotswood. Maloree Kanney served up three straight points and Olivia Hall opened the game with a block.
The Trailblazers tried to weasel their way back in with a few points, but Jolie Dudley kept the force going for Waynesboro when she dug a big hit from the back row and Waynesboro led 8-6.
Rachel Binda served up the next service points allowing Katie Doyle to go up for the slam to the back row of Spotswood.
"Every night we have chances," Aleshire said. "They have to learn to focus for a whole match."
For the next few points, Waynesboro kept a tight leash on the Trailblazers, but then Spotswood's Amanda Hine went up for the biggest block of the match to get the ball back.
"We're doing what we're expected to do against a team like this," said Spotswood's coach Jim Roth. "I was happy that they adjusted and were trying different things."
Those different strategies worked when Spotswood went on a three-point rally to cut the Waynesboro lead to one. Both Hine and Skyler Gearhardt outsmarted Waynesboro when they each set a free ball for a point.
Waynesboro answered those scores when Nell Taylor went up for a block to make it a 16-14 lead. Rachel Smith followed with two straight serving points.
However, when Haley Day got the sneak tip on the front of the Little Giants it was the start of a new comeback for the Trailblazers.
The trailing stopped.
"We kept them on their toes. We weren't real predictable," Roth said. "I gotta real good group of girls that are enjoying each other."
Down 18-15, the Little Giants would get a rude awakening when Gearhardt's rip went through the hands of Waynesboro's front-row block.
On the next point though, there was a miscommunication in the Spotswood back row causing the Trailblazers to lose possession. But Waynesboro lost the next possession when Taylor served a ball into the net cutting the lead to 19-17.
"We missed too many serves at critical times," Aleshire said. "It's like we only play partial games. They have to build their own intensity no matter who we play."
Spotswood, however, took advantage as Jessica Shifflett went on an eight-point service run for the Trailblazers, two of which were aces.
On the final point and a chance to get the ball back, Binda's hit went flat into the net.
"They're listening to me. We're not just trying to pound the ball," Roth said. "Anytime you beat Waynesboro it's a huge confidence booster."