By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Flicking the switch, from squinting in the twilight with one headlight to shining the bright beams in Springs Valley’s eyes, Bedford North Lawrence put it all together and drove it home.
After a large lead in the third set disappeared like deer into the darkness on the side of a county road, the Stars toggled from dim to brilliant with a closing rush, scoring 11 of the final 12 points to post a four-set victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday night.
With strong serving and moments of net power, BNL bounced to a 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-11 triumph. Both teams were struggling for a consistent flow, when the Stars suddenly discovered the connection with their late charge.
“We just find the drive,” BNL’s Lily Mishler said. “We find it too slow, but once we get in a good groove, we get that drive and it pushes us to succeed.”
Leading 14-10 in the fourth, the Stars hit the right button. Adalynn Bailey cranked two aces, Izzy Root ripped two points at the net and scored off a soft dink, and Mishler finished with two blasts as BNL improved to 9-13.
Valley (11-8) also displayed power surges. The Blackhawks went on a 6-0 run to a 12-8 advantage in the second set, stayed in front at 22-21, then dropped four straight points off errors. BNL kept that momentum into the middle of the third set, rumbling to an 8-3 lead. But the Blackhawks scrambled back, and their best moments came at 19-19 with a five-point burst as Emmy Saliba knocked down a point at the net and outside hitter Mia Crews popped two spikes off the blockers. Saliba capped the set with a block point.
“We turned it on,” Valley coach Caity Pierce said. “We kind of played a step behind, energy wise and defensive wise, we moved a step slower than we normally do. Once we turned it on, we saw that glimpse of volleyball we normally play. We saw more of the team we’re used to.”
BNL dominated the final set. Bailey served the Stars to a 6-0 lead, while Mishler and Root combined for kills to make it 13-5, which set the stage for the final flurry.
“We kept our serves in,” BNL coach Aaron Wagoner said. “In those first two sets, there were times they bailed us out. The service line means a lot. When we keep our intensity up, there’s no way we lose those points. Keeping them focused throughout the play is a task.”
“Sometimes we get in our heads, and it doesn’t really work to our advantage,” Mishler said. “We let that take us, and it just gets too far. But there’s not panic, because we know what we’re capable, and we know what we need to do.”
Mishler finished with 19 kills and three aces, Bailey totaled 39 assists, 16 digs and five aces, and Root added 15 kills. Jenna Allen was a constant contributor with seven kills, 16 digs and three aces, and Lily Wagoner had 16 digs.
Saliba was a force for Valley with eight blocks and seven kills, Crews totaled six kills, and Adleigh Galloway added three aces.
BNL will host Columbus North on Tuesday.
