Rock Hill volleyball team loses in five sets to Hillcrest

By Mychal Frost - Herald correspondent

For the second straight season, Rock Hill High's volleyball team was ousted from the Class AAAA playoffs by Hillcrest.

Unlike last year's 3-0 sweep, the defending state champion Rams won a decisive game five among controversy on Tuesday night.

Rock Hill, which entered the playoffs ranked No. 6 in the state, finished its impressive season at 19-3 after falling in five games to Hillcrest.

Photo 1: Rock Hill volleyball team loses in five sets to Hillcrest

Rock Hill dropped game one 25-20 and battled back to take the next two, 25-19 and 25-20. Hillcrest capitalized on Bearcat miscues to win game four, 25-13, forcing a fifth game.

In its three playoff games, the battle-tested Bearcats often found themselves in tough situations, none that could prepare them for what unfolded to swing momentum to the Rams late in game five.

"Christina (Vereb) is our go-to girl and when it's tight that's where we're going to take it," Rock Hill coach Cindy Elder said. "It's just unbelievable to lose an opportunity that these kids have worked so hard for."

With her team trailing 5-3 in game five, Rock Hill senior Alicia Bragg served the 'Cats to four straight points. After giving away two points, Vereb, a junior, gave Rock Hill the lead, 8-7, as her powerful attack slipped past the Rams.

Hillcrest then countered to take a 10-8 lead, scoring two points on Bearcat hitting errors. Bragg later punctuated a Rock Hill rally with a kill giving her team a one-point edge, 12-11, and forced a timeout by Rams coach Lynn Avant.

Kylie Haun's dump pass drew the Rams to its first set point opportunity, but after a short volley Vereb, again, smashed the ball, to knot the score at 14. Bragg followed with a kill to give the Bearcats its first chance for the win.

Hillcrest appeared unable to return Brittney Bernard's serve and the Bearcats erupted in cheers assuming they'd won the match and would advance to the semifinals.

But, the referees did not whistle the play dead and Hillcrest converted the point to tie the game. Haun, who reeled off eight straight points in game four, held serve for the Rams and propelled them to a Thursday night matchup against Byrnes.

"It shouldn't have been so close, we should have pulled it out a little bit earlier. But, to lose like that is just terrible. I'd rather just get killed than to have it on a controversial call like that."

Hillcrest's Avant didn't discount the hectic finish and credited the "we've been there before" attitude of her players for pulling it out.

"This (game) could have gone either way," she said. "It's who makes the plays at the right time or who gets the call at the right time. And unfortunately when you've got humans involved that's the way it is."