Franklin Academy volleyball downs Voyager, drops Vikings from three-way tie for 1st

They had to wait six weeks, but Franklin Academy’s volleyball team got redemption against Voyager Academy Thursday night. The Patriots, in come-from-behind fashion, defeated the Vikings 3-2.

With the win, Franklin Academy (14-2, 13-1 North Central Athletic 1A) broke a three-way tie with Voyager Acadmey atop the standings and got revenge on the only NCAC team they lost to (3-2, earlier this year).

It also sets up a showdown with fellow first-place Roxboro Community next Friday night. FA won the first matchup 3-2.

“We’ve been preparing for this since we lost to them earlier in the season,” said Patriots coach Stephanie Smith. “That was a loss that we should not have had, and tonight we proved that to ourselves and to the other team. That’s what we have been preparing for and we can move onto the next game.”

Franklin Academy came out focused and ready as they led 9-4 early. They increased their lead, and at one point took eight points in a row. But it was a different story in Game 2, as Voyager Academy (14-5, 12-2) won 25-16, never trailing in the game. After taking Game 3 (25-17), the Patriots found the intensity that was missing in earlier to eventually force the deciding fifth game.

“I feel like in Game 2 they relaxed a little too much,” said Smith. “Their adrenaline went really high and when that was let go in the second game, they laid back a little bit. They were shocked at that, and in the third game, they were still recovering from that.

In the huddle before the fourth game, I saw the change back to their intensity as they headed back onto the court, so I was confident.”

THEY SAID IT

In the fifth game, with match point, Franklin Academy appeared to have won when Anna Keyser, off a set pass, leaned to her left to knock an off-balance shot to the right sideline. After the officials met, they couldn’t determine the outcome, so it was replayed, and the Patriots won off a spike from Mackenzie Bademian.

“The line judge called it in, the down ref wasn’t sure, he was blocked by the play. Instead of ending a tough match on a questionable call, they did a replay, and I agreed with that decision,” said Smith.

UP NEXT

Before FA takes on Roxboro with first place potentially on the line, the Patriots take on Raleigh Charter next Tuesday. Franklin Academy won the previous matchup 3-0. For Voyager, with their four-game winning streak snapped, they will look for a new one against Research Triangle next Monday. Voyager took the first matchup, 3-1 back in early September.

This story was originally published October 7, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Franklin Academy volleyball downs Voyager, drops Vikings from three-way tie for 1st."