The Franklin Academy Lady Patriots JV volleyball rallied from a one set deficit to take the victory from a strong Louisburg team. Overcoming many obstacles - at Louisburg; only one practice (this morning) in the last 2 weeks;  playing during track out; and missing two players from the normal rotation - the team continued to show that it knows how to win. 

The rust was clearly evident in the first set as Louisburg forged to a commanding 6-point lead. The Patriots struggled to serve receive and communicate. Unforced errors plagued the team and resulted in a completely dominant 25-16 1st set to Louisburg.

The second set started the way the first set ended with Louisburg forging to a 4-0 lead. After a Patriots timeout, junior OH Gabriella Gaviria served several aces and brought the teams back even at 5-5. At this point, the Lady Patriots decided it was time to play volleyball. Led by the setting of sophomore setter Mackenzie Long, the hitting of Gaviria and freshmen OH Kenzie Hill, MH Carly Harris and MH Cameron Monroe, the Patriots showed everyone that their 9-2 record was no fluke. Strong passing from sophomore libero Reese Taylor, junior DS Callie Keehbler and freshman DS Jennifer Pates anchored the strong defensive effort and the team won the second set 25-19.

The third and deciding set started just like the first two with the Louisburg Warriors jumping to a 5-0 lead. After a timeout the Patriots got the ball back and regained some of their 2nd set focus. Both teams settled into good solid volleyball and the score see-sawed back and forth. With the Patriots holding an 18-17 lead, the Warriors ran off 6 straight points to take a commanding lead at 23-18. But the Lady Patriots were not done. Freshman Tori Mullis, playing in a new position today due to the absence of other players, stepped up and served out the set. She was clearly the dominant server throughout the whole match, notching 22 serves across the three sets. With her serves and good back row defense from Taylor and Gaviria, the front row of Hill, Monroe and Long delivered the points. The Patriots won 25-23 on an emphatic spike from OH Kenzie Hill. 

This was a good, tough road win for the Lady Patriots as they  improved to 10-2. Their next game is at East Wake on Wednesday, 9/26, at 4:30.