GPS Ends Losing Streak Against Baylor

Bruisers Win, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19 & 25-19

Baylor had won 12 straight in this high-octane rivalry, but all of that changed at Baylor Tuesday evening as GPS played perhaps their best match of the season to win in four sets.  Baylor won the first set 25-16 before GPS came back to win the next three by scores of 26-24, 25-19 and 25-19.

GPS improves to 13-10 overall and 1-4 in region play while Baylor is now 22-4 overall and 6-1 in region play.

There's nothing quite like the atmosphere when these two teams play volleyball.  They brought in extra bleachers for Tuesday's match and they were all full with students filling both end zones in places two or three people deep.  And there's no comparison to the noise level created.

It sort of reminds one of a great state championship match where two really good teams go to war with each other.

GPS coach Steve Nicola was all but speechless when this match ended, but he couldn't have been more proud of his girls.

"What a wonderful atmosphere with a packed house and lots of noise.  It all worked out at the end for us as we played well in a really tough situation," he said while the celebration continued between players, supportive students and parents.

"I thought we blocked well and covered well too.  We also had some hitters who did a great job.  We aren't blessed to have the depth that Baylor has, but we did what we had to do tonight.  We still have work to do, but this was a big night for us," he added.

It had been six years since the Bruisers prevailed in this match.  Ironically, that last win over the Lady Red Raiders was also on Baylor's court.  Head coach Sarah Lail was quick to praise GPS for a great match.

"Those seven seniors have worked so hard for this, but they earned it tonight," Lail began.

"I think we let the fear of failure creep in a little bit, but the momentum shifted.  It's tough to beat the same team three times in one season and GPS did a nice job of adjusting to things we had done in the last two matches.  Volleyball is one of those sports where anything can happen.  We can certainly learn from today's match, but today was their day.  A match like this will just make us better," she smiled.

Baylor never trailed in the opening set.  Their lead was 10-9 before they scored six of the next eight points, leading to the first timeout for the Bruisers.  A kill from Gabby Minton put Baylor up 21-14 and they claimed the early lead when Milyn Hold had a kill to end it.

While Baylor led the whole way in the first set, GPS did the same in the second as they got off to a great start and had a commanding 9-3 lead before Lail called her first timeout.  It only got worse as the difference was 19-10 before Baylor rallied.

Four straight service points from Rory Oleksik, including three aces, allowed Baylor to trim that lead to 21-20.  Kills from Molly Billington and Kenzie Johnson tied the score at 23 and 24, but that didn't slow the Bruisers as they evened the score following kills from Morgan Moore and Sophia O'Keefe.

Baylor used an ace from Oleksik and a kill from Billington to take an early 3-0 lead, but the Bruisers never lost faith and took the lead for the first time at 5-4 following a Baylor hitting error.  The score was tied four times the rest of the way, but Baylor never regained the lead with a kill from Brynn Goldsmith giving GPS the lead at two sets to one.

The Bruisers controlled play at the start of the fourth set.  Five straight service points from Ellie Holland put GPS up 13-5.  A block from Moore put the visitors up 19-9 as things were looking good for the Bruisers.

Trailing 22-12, Baylor had one more run where Hold recorded six service points, but Goldsmith put an end to that with back-to-back kills.  Just a minute or so later, O'Keefe recorded her final kill to end the match as players and fans stormed the court for GPS.

Catie Nicola had a great match with 17 kills to lead the GPS hitters while Cat Nygaard had 23 digs.  Jenkins finished with 36 assists while Kendall Nati chipped in with five blocks.

Hammel had 13 kills to lead the Baylor hitters while Oleksik had 22 digs and four aces.  Hold finished with 43 assists while Kenzie Johnson, Minton and Billington all had two blocks for the Lady Raiders.

GPS will be on the road again on Thursday to face Chattanooga Christian in another key region match.  Baylor returns to action with a home match on Monday against the Chattanooga Patriots while completing their regular season on Tuesday against region foe Knoxville Catholic.

GPS STATS:

Brynn Goldsmith – 8 kills, 2 digs, 1 block

Kendall Nati – 3 kills, 2 digs, 5 blocks

Ellie Holland – 5 digs, 2 aces

Sophia O'Keefe – 10 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces

Catie Nicola – 17 kills, 8 digs, 2 blocks, 1 ace

Cat Nygaard – 23 digs, 1 ace

Morgan Moore – 3 kills, 2 blocks

Sophia Jenkins – 36 assists, 12 digs, 2 aces, 3 blocks.

BAYLOR STATS:

Gabby Minton – 10 kills, 2 blocks

Brenna Bagley – 10 digs

Calista Stafford – 2 aces, 6 digs

Molly Billington – 9 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks

Fergie Hammel – 13 kills, 2 digs, 1 block

Rory Oleksik – 4 aces, 22 digs

Nina Lail – 4 digs

Scarlett Kelly – 1 dig

Willa Provonsha – 1 kill

Milyn Hold – 2 kills, 43 assists, 3 aces, 8 digs

Kenzie Johnson – 6 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks

Taylor Warren – 5 kills, 1 dig.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)
GPS Ends Losing Streak Against Baylor - Chattanoogan.com

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