Last Thursday saw Highlands face off against Blue Ridge in a home varsity volleyball game. The Bobcats faced a rocky start before finding momentum late in the game, albeit too late to halt a Highlander victory.
With a home court advantage, the Highlanders came out with a fury.
Highlands made quick work of the Bobcats throughout the first set. The Bobcats battled the court boundaries and net along with their blue-clad foes.
Highlands sent balls over and Blue Ridge seemed caught off guard and fumbled the first few points. As balls sailed out of bounds or crashed into the net, the Highlanders extended their lead.
The teams traded serves and hits, both in and out of bounds. With still more unanswered Highlander points, the score became 8-3, Highlands. Highlands continued to dominate the first period of the game, ultimately holding Blue Ridge to a small score. Highlands took the first set 25-5.
Blue Ridge entered the second period with a seemingly new charge. Whatever pep talk the Blue Ridge head coach gave the Bobcats between periods seemed to help. The Highlanders would take the set, but not without seeing the Bobcats bare teeth.
The period was hard fought along with both teams relatively neck and neck until the end. The Bobcats fell to the Highlanders with a score of 25-20.
An intermission to show off Highlands youth rec league teams followed the second set.
The Bobcats roared to life in the third set. Blue Ridge took a considerable lead at the start of the third period.
The Bobcats extended their lead to 7-1. Highlands’ steam seemed to run low through the third. The third period saw the Bobcats lead 9-2 before Highlands put up two more points. The Bobcats rose to 13-5, then continued. The Highlanders were only able to put on two more points before the Bobcats closed the third period with a score of 25-7.
Ahead 2-1, Highlands hoped to secure the win to declaw the Bobcats in the fourth set.
With both teams echoing communication for their teammates and keeping balls in the air for more than just a hit or two, the two teams seemed well matched. Highlands was able to shake off the previous period’s jitters.
The Highlanders took another lead in the fourth set, taking the score up to 22-14. The Bobcats fought to reclaim ground.
Blue Ridge put up two extra points, bringing the score to 22-16 with Highlands in the lead. Two more Highlander points pushed the score to 24-16.
A Highlands serve hit the net, giving the Bobcats an extra point. As Blue Ridge served, Highlands again sent it back into the net, bringing the score to 24-18 with Highlands still leading. The Bobcats were able to gain four additional, unanswered points, bringing the score to 24-22 before the Highlanders lost an out of bounds ball.
With a score of 24-23, Highlands, the Highlanders called a timeout, hoping to end the game. Fans for both teams cheered, but Highlands scored the final point to win the set 25-23.
Blue Ridge and Highlands will meet again on Oct. 10, in Cashiers.