CRESTVIEW — Niceville High School’s volleyball team is no longer in the same district as Crestview. but that didn’t mean the Eagles are any less a measuring stick for the Bulldog program.
If Crestview goes on and makes strong showing its district and advances in the playoffs Thursday’s match might be considered a launching pad to the success.
And while the Eagles are and Bulldogs are no longer district rivals the Okaloosa County rivalry remains in tact. Thursday’s match the feel of the big time rivalry as members of the student section Dog Pound howled with each point won by Crestview.
In the end the Dog Pound had plenty to howl about as Crestview won in four sets 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 25-22.
“We just had to stay focused and do what we do,” Crestview Coach Kathy Combest said. “They are a great team. They have a lot of great hitters.
“We just had to stay focused at the net. My girls just did a great job doing what they do.”
Kierra Potts, Christa Johnson and Cailee Ness waged battle with the Niceville front line of Alexis Creasman, Stephanie Kaufman and Grace McIntosh throughout the match.
On this night Potts and Company had a little more fire power for the Bulldogs, who improved to 5-1 on the season. Potts finished the match with 11 kills and six aces and kept the Eagles on their heels much of the match.
“Even though they are no longer in our district it (the win) means a lot because we are still rivals with them,” Potts said. “I think this definitely builds our confidence and we are ready to take on any team.”
The Bulldogs (5-1) took seemed to take quick control of the match when they won the first set 25-15.
Crestview libero Meghan Deitz provided a spark serving with a pair of aces early that staked the Bulldogs to a 7-4 lead they didn’t relinquish.
Potts was serving for Crestview when the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run to take control of the set. Ness and Pamela George had important kills during the run.
It didn’t seem as if the Bulldogs could do too much right in the second set as the Eagles cruised to even the match 1-1.
The final two sets were nip and tuck with the Dog Pound cheering every point. During breaks in play the students chanted, “I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN,” trying to will their classmates to victory.
Niceville led 15-11 in the third set when a Johnson kill seemed to turn the tide for the Bulldogs as Crestview went on an 8-1 run to take control of the set and go up 2-1 in the match.
Neither team led by more than three points in the final set. Marisa Rogers had a couple of big aces for Crestview late in the set to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance before Potts went on a tear at the net to finish off the win for Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview volleyball team stays focused in win (PHOTOS)