NP beats Clovers in annual Rally for the Cure match

North Putnam sophomore Taylor Nauert (10) spikes a ball into Cloverdale junior Lexi Branneman's arm for a kill to finish off the second set. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

ROACHDALE -- North Putnam hosted Cloverdale in the annual Rally for the Cure Volleyball match on Thursday night. The game was full of action with many momentum shifts. The Cougars ended up being victorious, 3-2.

The Cougars came out fast, despite ailing before the match.

"They have a cough like bronchitis. I have about six of them that have a serious illness," North Putnam head coach Brandy Dickson said.

In the first set the Cougars got off to a torrid pace, gaining a 17-9 advantage. But the Clovers fought back to a 21-21 tie, only to let it slip away to the Cougars who would take it 25-22.

In the second set the Cougars also got off to a torrid start leading, 9-0 behind senior Bethany Wiatt's serving. The Cougars held the lead this time, winning set two 25-19.

"The first two sets were really slow starts for us. Then I thought we played really well," Cloverdale head coach Kathy Moore said.

In set three the Clovers came back. CHS was down 12-8 but made a hard charge and won 25-20

Set four similar to set three, but this time the teams were neck-and-neck until the end Cloverdale pulled away late to gain a 25-21 win.

Set five was one for the ages. There was no more than a two point difference at any time and the crowd was loudly rooting on its respective schools. The game finally ended on an ace by NPHS senior Kelsey Reed, wrapping up the game 15-13 and the match 3-2.

"They tried to refocus after every point. We work a lot on that in practice," Dickson said.

On the night the star player was the Cougar sophomore Taylor Nauert.

"This is probably the best game she played all year. Her blocking made a huge impact on the game," Dickson said.

She led all played with 30 kills and 17 blocks. She made her presence known on the floor and you could see it in the way the hitters had to try and loft the balls over her outstretched arms.

"She's a pretty good player. She hit around the blocks quite a bit," Moore said.

The night was filled with tons of drama and lots of excitement as North Putnam and Cloverdale volleyball always does.

Cloverdale junior Kimmy Winders digs out a shot during the match at North Putnam on Thursday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

At North Putnam
Cloverdale................22 19 25 25 13
North Putnam...........25 25 20 21 15