The Alba-Golden-Mineola volleyball match last Tuesday was a study in momentum.

The Lady Jackets convincingly took the first two sets 25-18 and 25-13 before the Lady Panthers rallied to take sets three and four 25-16, 25-15. The Lady Jackets won the fifth set (15-7) and the match. 

It didn’t take Mineola head coach TaShara Stephens long to whistle a time-out upon the commencement of play. A mis-hit, a service error and a solid kill by Alba-Golden put the Lady Jackets down 1-3.

“We aren’t going to start this way!” she challenged in the time-out huddle.

The team was listening. Mineola began to systematically attack. Clearly, the consistent setting of Trinadee Jackson anchored the Lady Jackets throughout the match, especially in games one and two. 

Mahayla McMahon’s strong kill stroke and solid work by Jayla Jackson kept the Lady Jackets on the offensive. A late 4-point run by Alba-Golden was not enough to challenge for game one.  

Game two started with scores by Alba-Golden’s Kalli Trimble on a push-shot and two kills by teammate Lainey Teel. 

Mineola kept their steady pressure applied. They scratched back and took a 7-6 lead which they never relinquished. 

Two runs – one featured consecutive aces by Caroline Castleberry and the other an explosive kill by Kali Chreitzberg – secured the second set.

The temperature in the gym at this stage must have been over 90 degrees. Maybe it was the effect of the heat or simply the determination of the Lady Panthers not to capitulate, but it was a completely different match in games three and four. 

Despite Coach Stephens imploring her team, “Don’t let them back in the match!” the Lady Panthers came out and ripped off six straight points. Erin Langston scored  by putting away an overpass, and Trimble smashed a kill.

Suddenly it was Alba-Golden dictating the pace and offensive action.

More Lady Panthers produced strong shots, including  Lainey Wright, Bailee Bishop and Hailey Crutchfield. Winning the longest volley of the night and a combined block by Trimble and Teel captured set three for the home side. 

After two quick scores by McMahon to begin the fourth set, the Lady Panthers embarked on a 7-point run. Alexis Wilmut got it started with a kill. Langston chipped in two aces, and Teel had an emphatic spike. The Lady Panthers pushed to a 10-point lead and kept the pressure on.

Having turned the entire match on its head and forced a fifth-set tie-breaker, Alba-Golden had all the momentum. It would take composure and execution to decide the match.

On this night, it was the Lady Jackets who steadied themselves for a final push.

Two critical scores in the tie-breaker were a combined block by Jayla and Kyra Jackson and a soaring kill from Chreitzberg off the left wing in the middle of a six-point run by Mineola. 

The match was decided, and as with most Alba-Golden vs. Mineola games, it was a match to remember.

It didn’t have to be so exciting however. Combined, the teams committed 21 service errors and communications failures. Had either side removed these errors from their game, they may have recorded a dominant win.

The next opportunity to watch either side will be Tuesday, Sept. 12. Alba-Golden hosts Harts Bluff while Mineola hosts Grapeland.