CRESTVIEW — A red hot Crestview High School volleyball team put its five-match winning streak on the line Tuesday night against Navarre.
Perhaps it was the Senior Night celebration before the match. Or maybe it was just the tenacious play of the Raiders. Whatever the reason, the Bulldogs got off to a slow start dropping the first set 24-26 before coming back to win three straight sets 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 to make it six straight wins.
“We are getting to where we can come back when we make some mistakes and not let it be detrimental to us and not let it get us down,” Bulldog coach Kathy Combest said. “That’s something that helps in the big games too.”
Crestview (15-4) jumped to a quick start in the first set behind the play of Christa Johnson and Kierra Potts taking a 7-2 lead.
But the Raiders were determined to do their best to spoil the big night for Johnson and her fellow seniors; Lakayla Robinson, Alexis Taylor and Meghan Deitz.
Jordyn York got hot in serve as Navarre scored six straight points to move in front 8-7.
The play in the first set continued to go back-and-forth with York, Hayley Thompson and Hallie Bouressa leading the charge for the Raiders. Crestview countered with strong play from Johnson, Potts and Robinson.
Late in the set the Bulldogs were up 22-18 and seemed to be in position to take the 1-0 lead. But Crestview mistakes coupled with Navarre getting strong serves for Thompson propelled the Raiders to the first set win.
The Bulldogs didn’t trail the rest of the match.
Crestview took a 9-1 lead in the second set and pulled away to tie the match at 1-1.
Robinson, Johnson and Potts continued to shine for Crestview in the second set and Marisa Rogers stepped up with several big serves and assists.
A kill by Cailee Ness gave Crestview 6-4 lead in the third set and the Bulldogs were off and running once again.
Rogers was in serve for Crestview to start the fourth set and the Bulldogs scored five straight points to take control of the set early.
Riley Edwards had a kill early in the set for Crestview to help spark the Bulldogs.
But Navarre wouldn’t go away as the Raiders fought their way back in the set. A kill by Eliana Rangel closed the Crestview lead to 16-14.
The Bulldogs then went on a 9-2 run to close out the set and the match.
“Right now we kind of like on a winning streak and doing pretty good,” Combest said. “We just have to keep it that way and play our game.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview shakes off slow start to beat Navarre