***Check below for video highlights and interviews from the match
Click here to view the photo gallery from the match
By Andy States
Content Manager, SMAC
With a big match against county-rival Northern looming on the horizon later in the week — and those very same Patriots watching in the bleachers — there was plenty for the Huntingtown Hurricanes to look ahead to.
Problem was, Tuesday night’s opponent was the La Plata Warriors, a team that came into Tuesday’s match at Huntingtown with an upset on its mind. But after the Warriors took the second set to square the match, Huntingtown regrouped to take the final two in convincing fashion in a 25-13, 22-25, 25-9, 25-14 win.
“I was ridiculously impressed with La Plata,” Huntingtown coach Shari Turner said. “They’re always, I call them the sleeper team. They’re always very scrappy. You’re never quite sure when the ball’s coming back.
“They played their hearts out and that pushed my girls to something that I can’t push them to.”
Huntingtown (4-0, 4-0) did not take its first lead until 10-9 in the opening set, but cruised the rest of the way in winning 15 of the next 19 points. But La Plata (1-2, 1-2) fought back in the second and hung tough through much of the fourth to provide a little more of a workout for the hosts — something Turner viewed as invaluable in preparation for Thursday night’s clash with Northern, a match that could have plenty of SMAC significance.
“I feel like they now know that they’re not invincible,” she said. “Anybody can beat you at any time and I know that’s lip service to a lot of teams because it’s very difficult to return after a very successful season that we had last year.”
The Hurricanes, though relatively few in numbers (just nine players round out the squad), do have lofty expectations based on past performance. In the program’s four years since the school’s opening, Huntingtown has won the 3A South title each year and made three 3A state final appearances, including last season. And after graduating four starters from last year’s team, living up to each year’s expectations can be a difficult task.
“Yeah, it is because every single game people are there watching,” Huntingtown senior Jordan Bittner said. “Northern was here tonight watching us — we play them Thursday.
“We just have to go out and play every game.”
With La Plata behind them, the Hurricanes can now focus on Thursday night’s challenge.
“We’ll prepare for them tomorrow,” Bittner said. “Hopefully we’ll play as good as we did tonight.”
Processing your request, Please wait....
