By: Ross Van De Griek
TAMPA, Fla.- It was senior night tonight at Wildcat Gym, the home of the Wharton Wildcats & the seniors did not disappoint.
The Wharton Wildcats improved their record to 14-1 overall & 5-0 in district 7A-7 play, with a 3-set win over the Sickles Gryphons who fell to 7-5 overall & 2-2 in district 7A-7 play.
The host Wildcats jumped off to a quick 5-1 run in the opening set, that was started by a kill by Wharton senior Jeanette Henderson. However, Sickles responded with a mini 4-1 run of their own, that made it a 6-5 Wharton edge in the early stages of the first set. Sickles & Wharton would trade the next five points each, where Wharton would take an 11-10 lead. A couple of Sickles errors, increased the Wildcat lead to 15-12, as we approached the later stages of the first set. Wharton kept the run going by scoring three of the next four points, to jump out in front 18-13. Wharton wouldn't look back & they took the opening set, 25-19.
The second set didn't start easy for Wharton, as Sickles scored three of the first four points to take a 3-1 lead. However, Wharton would answer with a 5-1 run & take a 6-4 lead early in the second set. Both teams would trade points, as Wharton re-took a 13-12 lead at the midway point of the second set. Sickles' head coach Gary Jones had to call a timeout at 16-14 Wharton, just to settle his team down. Jones, during the timeout. "This set is not over, keep battling & reduce the mistakes." Sickles responded by taking a 22-20 lead, late into the second set. However, Wharton would close out the set, with five straight points & go up 2-0, with a 25-22 set win.
The third set started with a back & forth battle, as through the first ten points Wharton had a 6-4 lead. Wharton would score four of the next six points to retake a 10-6 lead. Wharton took complete control in the third set, as they started to pull away leading 19-11, as we approached the later stages of the third set. However, Wharton would never trail in the third set, as they took the set, 25-13 & the match, 3-0.
BOX SCORE 1 2 3
Sickles 19 22 13
Wharton 25 25 25
The road ahead for Sickles (7-5): @ Bloomingdale (Thursday, 9/26)
The road ahead for Wharton (14-1): Wharton Harvest Tournament (Fri, 9/27-Sat, 9/28)
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