Suffolk News-Herald

The Lady Saints volleyball team narrowly lost to visiting Norfolk Collegiate three games to two (25-21, 18-25, 25-27, 25-13, 15-12) Tuesday night at NSA.

The Lady Saints tallied 24 aces as a team, with Kristen Nuckles leading the team with seven.

The Oaks began game one by jumping out to a 12-4 lead.

A 9-1 run gave the Lady Saints a short-lived lead a 15-14 before Collegiate regained momentum and took the first game.

The second game began in much the same way as the Oaks broke out to a 9-4 lead.

The Lady Saints rallied again, aided by three aces from Minka Foster, NSA took eight of the next nine points gaining a 12-10 advantage.

Another dramatic run closed out the second game in favor of NSA as a 17-17 tie finished as a 25-18 win.

Beginning the third game with momentum still in hand, NSA got out to a 5-1 lead thanks in part to three of Nuckles’ seven aces.

The game tightened on a 7-0 Oaks run that closed the NSA lead to 11-10.

NSA maintained a small lead for most of the rest of the game but had two game points turned away.

With the score tied at 25, a kill by Parris Grieder, one of her team-leading 11, returned serve to the Lady Saints.

The third game point chance was successful and NSA took a two games to one lead.

From there, the momentum shifted back to the Oaks as they took a 15-5 lead to begin game four and went on to take the final two games.

Overall though, Coach Shane Foster was pleased with the performance on the night.

Grieder and Foster had six aces apiece and Ellen Giermak led the team with six blocks.

The Lady Saints (1-5, 0-0) return to action Thursday evening at home versus Cape Henry.

The Lady Saints were more successful than their male counterparts, who fell 3-0 to the Oaks. Both teams play at home today, as the women play Cape Henry and the men face Catholic.

In other action, Nansemond River’s boys fell 3-1 to Hickory, while the Lady Warriors lost 3-0. King’s Fork’s girls fell 3-1 to Oscar Smith.

The Warriors host western Branch today, while the Bulldogs go to Indian River. Lakeland host Deep Creek.