NVASeasonMatadors Cool Off Blaze with a 3-1 Win

 

Set #1 – Matadors 25, Blaze 22

 

Blaze started off strong with a block point and Matador hitting error that gave them a 6-2 lead. Matadors earned 2 points back with a block point and a kill to reduce the lead to 8-6; and then tied the match at 9-9 with good defense. Both teams sided-out well throughout the middle of the set. At 15-15 the Blaze took a 2-point lead (17-15) after a block point. Matadors rallied back with a block point and hitting error to take a 19-18 lead. With a beautiful back set kill by the Matador setter, digs and a kill the Matadors led 21-19. A Blaze serve caused a Matador over pass which led to A kill by Blaze and tied the score at 21-21. After two side-outs, block point, defensive play and two kills the Matadors won the match 25-22.

 

Set #2 – Blaze 25, Matadors

 

The Matadors took a quick 4-1 lead with the help of two Blaze hitting errors. Substitution #27 The teams traded points until the Blaze earned a point back to trail by one at 6-5. But then the Matadors had a short run to increase their lead by four points to 10-6.

The Matadors carried their lead to 14-10. A huge momentum swing occurred from an explosive kill by #27 Blaze, a block 20 and service ace that cut the Matador lead to 14-13. A Blaze block point tied the score 16-16. The Blaze caught fire  then a Blaze serving ace gave them an 18-17 lead. Blaze extended their lead with some great digs, a kill and a Matador error  Blaze to take 22-19 lead. Blaze won the set point from a Matadors serving error.

 

Set #3 Matadors 25, Blaze 21

 

The teams started the match trading points on service and hitting errors. At 4-4 the Matador’s took a 5-4 lead with a block point. The Blaze countered with a service ace and block point to take a  2-point lead 7-5. The Matadors countered with a net service ace and tied the score at 8-8. Blaze took an 11-9 lead with a block point and a touch kill. Matadors earned a point back and cut the lead to 14-13 and tied the score with a block point and then took 15-14 lead with a dig and kill. Blaze fought back and took the lead again at 18-17. A mini Matador run that included some great digs, kills  and a solo block launched them into a 22-19 lead. Blaze responded with a two-man block to reduce the lead to 22-21. But a service error broke Blaze’s momentum and the Matadors followed with a net service ace to take a commanding 24-21 lead. The Matadors sided out with a strong kill to win the set,.

 

Set #4 Matadors 30, Blaze 28

 

 

Blaze started off hot with a 4-0 run on two kills and two Matador hitting errors. The Matadors quickly earned back 2 points but then a Blaze kill and serve that led to an overpass and another kill brought the lead back to another 4-point lead 9-5. Passing errors by the Blaze provided the Matadors to stage a rally to tie the set at 9-9 and then took the lead from 10-9 to 13-11 on the Blaze’s erratic passing and a hitting error. Matadors relinquished the two point lead with a hitting error to tie the set at 16-16. But then the Matadors capitalized on 3 Blaze errors and increased their lead to 19-16. Momentum swing back to the Blaze with good defense, Matador hitting error and service ace to tie the score 19-19. Two side-outs later Matadors took a 2-point lead 22-20. Blaze followed up with a great rally to tie the score 22-22. Matadors reached 23 first. Teams traded service errors that gave the Matadors a 24-23 lead. But Blaze sided out to tie the set at 24-24. Some great rallies occurred in the next several possessions to tie the set at 25-25 and return the lead to the Blaze at 26-25. But the Matadors fought back and won the last two points from a Blaze back row attack and hitting error to close out the set.

 

Blaze had the advantage point but the Matadors continued to side out.

 

30-28