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Sandberg’s serving keys Hubbard victory
By Curtis Pulliam
Cortland
Hubbard’s Alvia Sandberg had the match against Lakeview pointed out on the schedule for a long time.
“I just wanted to put it all out there and do the best for my team,” Sandberg said. “I really wanted to win.”
Sandberg recorded 10 kills and five aces, helping lead the Eagles Thursday night to a four-game victory over the Lakeview Bulldogs by scores of 27-25, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-21.
After splitting the first two games, the third game was tied at 11 when Sandberg reeled off six points in a row to give the Eagles a 17-11 advantage and the momentum the rest of the way.
“She had a good run of tough jump fluid serves,” Hubbard head coach Jeremy Porter said. “It’s something she’s been working on and I really think she turned the match right there.”
Lakeview head coach Caitlin Schnurrenberger agreed Sandberg’s serving was the turning point of the match.
“We struggled breaking her [Sandberg’s] serve,” Schnurrenberger said. “That is what kind of got us down in that third game. It was hard for us to come back.”
Sandberg knew she had a rhythm going in her streak.
“It’s borderline euphoric,” Sandberg said. “It’s nice knowing you have a group of people depending on you and you met their expectations.”
In the fourth game, Hubbard used its momentum to open up a 10-3 lead.
Although Lakeview pulled within two, the Eagles were too much for the Bulldogs.
Porter was happy with his seniors’ leadership.
“We have five seniors; I’ve been around them since they were little kids,” Porter said. “They are the type of kids that will run through a wall for you and they really pulled through [tonight].”
Macey Sarisky also had a big night for the Eagles with 13 kills, 11 digs and four blocks.
“I think our team definitely did the best I have ever seen us play,” Sarisky said. “We have been preparing for it [Lakeview match] the whole season. I mean Lakeview has always been a big game for us. I was very impressed.”
In the first game, Hubbard started out fast with a 5-2 lead, helped by two Sarisky kills.
However, Lakeview came back to tie the game at 15 and took an 18-16 lead.
Hubbard regained the lead on another Sarisky kill and the Eagles sealed the game on a Catilin O’Hara kill.
“It’s huge,” Sarisky said of the win. “It gives us confidence into the rest of our season.”
In game two, the Eagles again started fast with a 5-0 lead. After a Lakeview timeout, Lakeview tied the game at nine. The game was back and forth the rest of the way.
Tied at 23, Lakeview scored the last two points to tie the match.
The Bulldogs were led by Anne Pavlansky who had 12 kills. Taylor Casassa added eight kills and Jensen Silbaugh had 23 digs for Lakeview (5-3 overall, 2-2 in All-American Conference Red Division). Hubbard improved to 5-1 in Red Division play and 7-1 overall.
“We know what we are capable of now,” Sandberg said. “When we go against higher opponents, we know how good we can be.”