Set one got away from the Lourdes volleyball team in the finals of the MUDECAS tourney at Beatrice Thursday, and Meridian seemed on the verge of securing a second set win and a tournament title.
The Knights didn’t back down.
They rallied.
Haley Kreifels posted an unexpected shot and Hanna Morrison got her game going at the right time as the Knights clawed back for a 23-25, 26-24, 25-21 win.
After holding leads of 16-12 and 18-13, the Knights stumbled late in the first set, allowing Meridian to secure a 25-23 win.
Set two seemed to be going a similar direction. The Knights led 17-13, but then trailed 21-19, 23-21, and 24-22.
Meridian had match point and Lourdes was out of timeouts.
The Knights responded by tying the second set at 24-24.
Haley Kreifels would then deliver what might have been the most important of her seven total kills on the night.
Instead of going for a kill with a roll shot, Kreifels chose to push the ball toward the back of the Meridian defense. The ball found the floor and, moments later, Morrison provided a set point kill to complete a 26-24 win and force a third set.
The two teams traded points for a good portion of set three.
Lourdes eventually established a 20-15 advantage and Morrison provided the final four kills for a 25-21 win and a tourney title.
Check the Tuesday News-Press for complete stats, coach quotes and a listing of tournament all star honorees.
