Gainesville rallies past Buchholz in five-set thriller

Buchholz's Taylor Sembower (12) and Gainesville's Charlotte Judge (10) go after the ball at the net. Photo by C.J. Gish
Buchholz's Taylor Sembower (12) and Gainesville's Charlotte Judge (10) go after the ball at the net.
Photo by C.J. Gish

The Gainesville Hurricanes volleyball team saw their nine-game winning streak against Buchholz end on Sept. 10 with a four-set loss at Bud Seymour Gymnasium.

On Thursday at a raucous Purple Palace, the Hurricanes rallied to get back in the win column against the Bobcats.

Gainesville (15-8) bounced back from a tough second-set loss to knock off the Bobcats, 3-2 (25-27, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 15-11).

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The Hurricanes honored seniors Rowan Kage and Addyson Hauptman before the match, and then Kage went out and racked up 14 kills to help Gainesville to the comeback win.

“The seniors all year, all they worry about is senior night,” Gainesville coach Jerica Carter-Mitchell said. “We asked them if they wanted to play Buchholz for senior night and they said yep, so we were ready for the challenge. It’s always good to play Buchholz at home, too.”

Gainesville finished its regular season winning six of its last seven games and rebounded from a 3-0 loss at Trinity Catholic (Ocala) on Tuesday.

“It was definitely a shocker to the system losing at Buchholz,” Jerica Carter-Mitchell said. “It was a really good game at their gym, so we knew we had to play almost perfect volleyball to beat them.”

Gainesville's Rowan Kage (4) goes for a hit against Buchholz's Demmi Strappy (11). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Rowan Kage (4) goes for a hit against Buchholz’s Demmi Strappy (11).

The first set went back-and-forth as Gainesville staved off a couple of set points before the Bobcats finally won 27-25.

The second set was dominated early by Gainesville. The Hurricanes led by as many as eight points at 14-6 and still led by 5 at 17-12. But the Bobcats went on a 13-5 run and scored six of the last seven points to rally and go up two sets to none.

“We had a plan we wanted to follow, and we did for a while, but couldn’t get to it fast enough as the match went on,” Buchholz coach Andre Medina said. “They (Gainesville) really got aggressive, and it helped change the match. This is the kind of loss that can help get us focused and prepared for the playoffs.”

Gainesville again moved out to a lead in the third set, and this time they held on. The Hurricanes led by as many as six points at 13-7 and never trailed as they eventually pulled away for a 25-17 win.

The fourth set saw Buchholz (11-5) lead by as many as five points at 15-10 and 16-11, but Gainesville rallied this time and went on a 9-1 run to take the fourth set, 25-22.

Gainesville never trailed in the fifth and deciding set, breaking away from a 4-4 tie to clinch the match.

Big-hitting sophomore middle blocker Jorryn Dye led the Hurricanes with 17 kills, and sophomore Jacey Carter-Mitchell had 13. Dye also added four aces.

Buchholz freshman Taylor Sembower led the Bobcats with 21 kills, with sophomore Aubrey Waters adding 20. Buchholz is back in action this weekend at the JJVA Spike Awareness tournament in Jacksonville.

“We talked last night about some of the accomplishments we have had this season,” Medina said. “One of the things we said was it can’t just be an amazing thing when we beat Santa Fe or GHS. It should now become standard that we beat and compete against these teams.”

Gainesville's Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1) sneaks a hit past Buchholz's Demmi Strappy (11). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1) sneaks a hit past Buchholz’s Demmi Strappy (11).
Gainesville's Jorryn Dye (8) with a hit against Buchholz's Taylor Sembower (12) and Demmi Strappy (11). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Jorryn Dye (8) with a hit against Buchholz’s Taylor Sembower (12) and Demmi Strappy (11).
Buchholz's Aaliyah Ray (19) attempts a hit against Gainesville's Rowan Kage (4) and Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Aaliyah Ray (19) attempts a hit against Gainesville’s Rowan Kage (4) and Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1).
Gainesville's Jordyn Barnard (7) and Buchholz's Julia Almond (7) battle at the net. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Jordyn Barnard (7) and Buchholz’s Julia Almond (7) battle at the net.
Buchholz's Aubrey Waters (20) battles at the net with Gainesville's Sloane Childers (12) and Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Aubrey Waters (20) battles at the net with Gainesville’s Sloane Childers (12) and Jacey Carter-Mitchell (1).
Buchholz's Taylor Sembower (12) with a dig against Gainesville. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Taylor Sembower (12) with a dig against Gainesville.
Buchholz's Sophia Lingis (10) with a set against Gainesville. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Sophia Lingis (10) with a set against Gainesville.
Buchholz's Aaliyah Ray (19) with a hit against Gainesville's Jordyn Barnard (7). Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Buchholz’s Aaliyah Ray (19) with a hit against Gainesville’s Jordyn Barnard (7).
Gainesville's Charlotte Judge (10) with a set against Buchholz. Photo by C.J. Gish
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Charlotte Judge (10) with a set against Buchholz.

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