On Thursday, Aug. 31, the Wellington High School girls volleyball team hosted Martin County High School in a non-conference match-up and fell to the Tigers in three straight sets, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18. The loss was the first for the Wolverines after going unbeaten in two matches.
Wellington held an early lead in the first set, 11-10, but the Tigers continued to press the action and battle toe-to-toe. Martin County took the lead at 21-18 after tying the set with a 3-point run. The Wolverines clawed back but could not grab the momentum, and the Tigers took the first set 25-21.
The first set seemed to take the steam out of the Wolverines, as Martin County went on an 8-point run to start the second set. Wellington finally got on the board to cut the margin, but played catch-up for the remainder.
They closed the gap to within three at 14-11, but miscues proved costly in the second set. Wellington’s Sarah Kimberly came up big in the set with stellar play at the net to chip away at the Tigers’ lead, 20-17. Martin County took advantage of low serves from the Wolverines and turned the miscues into points to take the second set 25-19.
Knowing they needed the third set to stay alive in the contest, Wellington drew first blood, stealing the first point of the third set. Kimberly showed her skills again with a monster kill after a Martin County dig. The play gave the Wolverines the point and possession to hold the lead.
But the advantage was short-lived. Wellington fell victim to a Tiger 5-point run to take control of the lead 5-2. The two teams delivered shots to exchange the lead several times through the set, then miscues again haunted the Wolverines when it mattered.
Big serves from the Tigers late in the set proved difficult for Wellington to keep the ball in play and challenge to close the margin. The third set went to the Tigers 25-18, and Wellington dropped to 2-1 on the season.
