WINDSOR – Bertie High School gave a valiant effort Saturday morning.

Unfortunately for the home-standing Lady Falcons, the effort wasn’t quite enough as they fell to Northern Nash in the first round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association volleyball playoffs.

The Lady Falcons fell behind early, but made a strong comeback in the first game, a sign of what would be for the entire match.

Northern Nash jumped out to an 8-1 advantage, but Bertie clawed back in the match behind the serve of Equalia Vines.

The Lady Knights, however, again pulled away taking a 13-6 lead and eventually leading 17-8.

A key dig by Satora Swain set the stage for Bertie’s comeback as Shanelle Foster’s serve and a kill by Vines got the Falcons within seven.

The rally began in earnest just a few points later when Abby Parker served three consecutive points and got kills from Foster and a block by Vines to get the Falcons within 20-14.

Vines then served five consecutive points for Bertie to get the Lady Falcons within one (21-20).

The Falcons got the match even at 23 on Tiera Brown’s serve, but Northern Nash eked out a 25-23 win in the first game.

The Lady Falcons started slowly in game two as well, with Northern Nash getting off to an 8-2 start and eventually leading 17-7.

Eboni Bond’s dig got the Lady Falcons a defensive point which was followed by a pair of aces from Foster as she served Bertie within 17-12.

With BHS still trailing by five (22-17), Swain took over the serve and rolled off six consecutive points to vault the Lady Falcons into a 23-22 lead.

Despite the Lady Knights deadlocking the score at 24-all, Brown served the final two points as Bertie claimed a 26-24 win to even the match.

Bertie picked up the momentum heading into set three and eventually took a 7-5 lead, but the Lady Knights kept the game close as they tied the score at 11-all and then took the lead with five consecutive points that made it 17-12.

The Lady Falcons again attempted a late-game comeback thanks to kills from Parker and Vines, but couldn’t quite get back as Northern claimed a 25-21 victory.

In game number four, the Lady Knights jumped out to a 9-2 advantage went on for the 25-16 win.

The Lady Falcons end the 2006 campaign at 2-15.