Heading into Tuesday May 5. against volleyball powerhouse Lyman High School, the Wolves were coming off their first district title since their 2009 state championship season. They were 23-4 entering their state play-in game versus the Greyhounds, and wanted revenge for a loss from a couple weeks earlier.
“We have a better mindset heading into this game. We’ve seen film on them. It’s about being aggressive and keeping our tempo,” said senior Tyler Womick.
They started the first set strong, taking a 7-1 lead early and forcing a timeout by Lyman. The Greyhounds were able to withstand the rough start, and eventually tied the game at 16. However, the two squads would go back and forth. Lyman eventually claimed the first set 26-24. It was a tough defeat for the Wolves who had come out on fire.
The second set opened differently than the first. The Greyhounds punished the Wolves up front on the net, repeatedly blocking kills. However, the Wolves held their composure, and were able to score back and forth with the Greyhounds. They eventually went on a 5-0 run that put them up 18-14. A timeout was called by Lyman.
Whatever their coach said worked because the Greyhounds then went on a 7-3 run of their own and forced Wolves coach Cameron Stevens to call two separate timeouts. After trading points to make it 24-23, Womick served an ace to win the set and tie the match 1-1.
They Wolves started the third set fast too, taking a 10-5 lead to start. They kept that lead at five, until Lyman went on a quick 4-0 run and cut the lead to one, 16-15.
Another Wolves timeout called by Stevens refocused the team. They forced Lyman to take a timeout of their own, after a 6-3 run made it 23-18.
Lyman was able to tie the game back up at 23, but the Wolves were resilient. They took the third set 25-23, and also a 2-1 match lead over the Greyhounds.
The Wolves were one set away from advancing to the state semi-finals, but seemed to come out flat. Lyman was in control the entire way, winning the set 25-18. The Greyhounds tied the match up at two, and each team’s season would come down to one final set.
Senior Jassiem Obie scored the first four points in the final set, but the Wolves fell behind 6-4. Stevens called a quick timeout before the lead began to get out of hand.
Lyman called a timeout with the score 8-8. Both coaches refused to let their teams quit, imploring their teams to want the win more than their opponents.
The two went back and forth trading scores. One bench would be sent in a cheering frenzy, then the other would do the same. It would come down to the wire.
The Wolves ultimately came out on top over the Greyhounds 15-12 in the final set to win the match. Obie came up huge in the final set, scoring multiple times down the stretch to get the win.
“It was really emotional,” said Obie. “We had to pickup the energy in the last set so we could finally get the win.”
The boys certainly did pick up the energy. They wore their hearts on their sleeves. After every point they were reminded of how close they were to advancing. Lyman would not be moving on to states this season. The Wolves couldn’t believe it.
“I really almost had a heart attack during that fifth set,” said Stevens.
With the win, the Wolves solidify the program as one of the best in Florida. They will play in the state semi-finals Friday, May 8. It will be the biggest volleyball game for the Wolves in quite some time.
