Head coached by Kimberly Nelson, Italy’s 7th and 8th Grade girls volleyball team won their first game of a YMCA hosted tournament on Thursday, and on Friday, Italy needed to dispose of a Waxahachie squad to secure a spot in the season finale.

In the first set, Italy jumped out to a 5-2 advantage and then went up 8-3. Waxahachie battled back but Italy remained in control 11-8. Italy pulled further away again after a Madison Washington spike gave Italy a 14-8 edge.

With the score 14-10, Bailey Eubank tracked a ball heading out of bounds and returned it back over her head for a point to put Italy up 15-10. Eubank followed up with two serves and aced the second to give Italy a 17-10. Key plays were turned in by Ashlyn Jacinto, Hannah Washington and Tara Wallis with a couple of athletic digs to save possessions.

Ahead 20-14, Kelsey Nelson delivered an ace to make the score 21-14. With Nelson continuing to serve, Italy built a 23-14 lead before Waxahachie regained control. Wallis gave Italy a 24-15 lead before ending the set with her serve 25-15.

In the 2nd set, Waxahachie’s girls sent their opening serve off the court giving Italy a quick 1-0 lead. Jaclynn Lewis then took over the serving duties Italy, and for a moment, it seemed someone would need to contact Guinness World Records.

Lewis hammered two straight aces and her third serve forced a Waxahachie player from the game when she was struck in the face. Wallis made a running save for the next point and Italy was rolling, 6-0. Lewis’s serves continued to be unreturned and Italy went up 9-0 before Waxahachie finally got on the board, ending Lewis’s streak at 8 and making the score 9-1.

Washington, Wallis and Ashlyn Jacinto helped serve Italy to a 17-6 advantage and Nelson’s ladies eventually won the second set 25-16. After a brief break, Italy prepared to take on Maypearl in the Championship game.

Earlier in the season, Maypearl defeated Italy in a previous 2-set duel leaving Italy playing the role as underdog going into the season’s final confrontation.

Maypearl began with a flurry of points but Italy manage to tie the set 6-6 before an ace by Nelson gave her team their first lead 7-6. Unfortunately, Italy’s first lead was their last as Maypearl found a productive rhythm with their serves and kept well in front before eventually winning the first set 25-15 over Italy.

To start the second set, Italy opened with a 3-0 lead but their momentum was quickly erased when Maypearl tied the game 3-3. The Maypearl team continued to spray Italy’s defense with point makers to take control 8-3 forcing Coach Nelson to call a timeout.

The break in the action temporarily disruptive Maypearl’s groove but they immediately got back on track and established a 20-7 lead, needing just 5 more points to claim the Championship.

A return over the net by Eubank made the score 20-8 followed by a Lewis serve mishandled by Maypearl to give Italy a glimmer of hope, despite trailing 20-9. Another successful serve by Lewis cut the deficit in half, 20-10. Jacinto made another key save with H. Washington helping to keep the ball alive resulting in another Italy point, 20-11 with Maypearl still very much in command.

Both sides sent serves beyond the boundaries to make the score 21-12. Maypearl survived the following lengthy volley to go up 21-12. A demoralized Italy team struggled to respond and Maypearl went up 24-12 before serving into the net to make the score 24-13. Italy’s next serve fell short of the net as Italy just missed accomplishing their ultimate goal. Maypearl celebrated their tournament Championship victory with Italy finishing as the Runner-ups.

Italy’s Roster:
Coach: Kimberly Nelson

• Cassidy Childers
• Bailey Eubank
• Ashlyn Jacinto
• Jaclynn Lewis
• Kelsey Nelson
• Jozie Perkins
• Tara Wallis
• Hanna Washinton
• Madison Washington