Neither No. 1 Hamilton or No. 6 Basha were at the top of their games Tuesday night.

It was Hamilton's ability to grab early five-or six-point leadsthat  proved crucial in the Huskies posting a 25-20, 28-26, 25-17 sweep of the Bears in a Division I volleyball match at Basha High.

Hamilton ran its overall record to 23-4 and remained perfect in power-ranking matches at 12-0. Basha is 18-9, 9-3 in power-ranking matches and was trying to end a seven-match losing streak to Hamilton dating backi to 2011.

"We didn't show up," Basha coach Terri Spann said. "I don't think they played very well either. In order for us to beat them we have to be at our best. It wasn't there tonight."

Spann was anticipating a better performance from her team, who just 10 days ago bowed 2-1 to Hamilton at the Gilbert Invitational. Spann saw signs in that match her team could play with Hamilton.

However, Basha didn't give itself a chance Tuesday early and when sets were on the line couldn't finish.

Hamilton broke out to a 6-1 lead in the opening set, 8-3 in the second set and 10-3 in the third. Basha rallied to within one (18-17) in the first set but the Huskies McKenna Woodford and Olivia Hallaran were successful on the attack to help finish the set. 

Hamilton's 8-3 lead in the second set became a 15-12 deficit. Hamilton responded by mounting a12-5 run that pushed Basha to set point. Basha used a pair of kills and two errors by Hamilton to tie the set at 24. Basha had set point leading 26-25, but Hamilton's Preslie Anderson tied it with a kill. Basha committed a hitting error and net violation handing the second set to the Huskies.

Even the 10-3 deficit in the third set wasn't safe for Hamilton as Basha pulled within 14-13 and 17-16 after a dump kill by Basha setter Alex Fisher. Successive kills by Anderson, Hallaran and Woodford bumped the lead to four and the Huskies finished out the match without anxiety.

"We were't real sharp, but we managed to be there at the end," Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said. "Terri's not going to let them give up. They are going to fight and they did tonight...."

"We need to be in these situations. We haven't had many, but when we have we've found a way."

Hamilton was led in the attack by Anderson (13 kills), Hallaran (12 kills) and Woodford (seven kills). Jessica Williams and Sydney Lostumo combined for 33 assists and Hailey Babcock led defensively with 19 digs. Basha set often to junior outside Justine Spann, who finished with 20 kills, but a low percentage of winners (.154) served as an off night. Teammate Lexi Johnson added six kills.

 

 

 

 

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