Gainesville Narrowly Defeats the Rock in a Back and Forth Match

The Canes looked to round out their regular season with a victory over the Lions. Having swept The Rock a few weeks prior, Gainesville entered Friday’s game with unbridled confidence. However, Gainesville’s confidence was almost its undoing as a sloppy game allowed The Rock to battle to the end.

GHS Takes Set One

Each team struggled to set an early tone as four straight service errors kept the set knotted at 4-4. Then, Gainesville junior Charlotte Garvlee began an impressive night with the tie-breaking kill, igniting the Cane’s bench.

Even through errors Gainesville was able to pull away, following three straight aces by sophomore Rere Davis, setting the score 12-6.

Gainesville remained unrelenting, forcing the Lion’s coach to call their first timeout of the match. Immediately out of the timeout the Lions scored. They hoped to return the momentum to their favor, however, the Hurricanes’ dominance never wavered.

Kills by Gainesville sophomore Chloe Petrik and junior Meme Davis ended the set in favor of Gainesville, 25-12.

@HighGainesville takes set one over The Rock 25-12 @ESPNGainesville pic.twitter.com/xkPTi7K1va

— Zachary Curtin (@zachary_curtin) October 13, 2022

The Rock Wins Set Two

While the Hurricanes were able to persist through a turnover riddled set one, the second would not be the same.

Quickly falling to a 3-1 deficit, Gainesville rallied to tie the set at four a piece. The back and fourth errors were only interrupted by kills by Lion’s sophomore Kelly Kidd, who totaled 20 in the match.

Following a long rally that ended with one of Kidd’s explosive hits, Gainesville was forced to call a timeout, with the score of 14-10. After the timeout, The Rock continued to capitalize off of Gainesville’s egregious turnovers, controlling the serve for the majority of the set.

Down 23-16, the Hurricanes began to rally behind a Davis kill. Tt was too little too late, though, and Kidd’s final kill of the set gave The Rock set two 25-20.

Back to the Hurricanes for Set Three

Gainesville looked to reassert the control it exhibited in set one but again struggled to find a cohesive rhythm.

Two early Gainesville errors gave the Lions an 4-1 lead. However, The Rock was not immune to side outs of their own, allowing Gainesville to claw back to tie the set at 13-13.

Davis continued to be her team’s offensive answer with another kill, causing the Lions to call a timeout with the score at 14-13. After the brief intermission, the match remained competitive as neither team could seem to claim the win.

With the set tied at 24, The Rock was unable to close the deal with two quick errors, ending the set 24-26 in favor of the Hurricanes.

@HighGainesville take a tight set three 26-24. They’re one away from taking the match. @ESPNGainesville pic.twitter.com/tjBKY8FSMQ

— Zachary Curtin (@zachary_curtin) October 13, 2022

The Lions Fight for Set Four

The Hurricanes looked to prevent the match from reaching set five, but the Lions would continue to surprise the Gainesville faithful.

A quick 3-0 Gainesville lead was spoiled by two quick errors, allowing The Rock to reclaim the lead 6-3. Yet another timeout by Gainesville looked to rectify the team’s rancid play.

The adjustments made seemed to be effective as Gainesville would cut the Lion’s lead to one, following a block by Garvlee.

The Hurricanes’ run would be spoiled, however, as Kidd had a kill and a block on consecutive plays, pushing the lead to 19-16. Gainesville remained unable to string scoring runs together, giving set three to The Rock 25-19.

Gainesville Seals Set Five

Each team’s bench and student section were on their feet in anticipation of a climatic final set. The race to 15 would mirror the rest of the match as a back and fourth affair, bogged down by side outs.

An early Davis kill gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead, which was quickly evened up by a Canes service error. In the final minutes of the set, Gainesville trailed 11-10. An ace by freshman Rylan Hauptman reinvigorated her teammates, finally allowing them to end the set 15-12.

Heading into the playoffs next week, Gainesville faces Buchholz, where it looks to limit its errors and be on the winning end of long rallies. The match will be Tuesday, Oct. 18.