Polk Middle serves up win over Brevard Middle

Down a set Wednesday to Polk County Middle School, Brevard Middle School’s volleyball squad looked poised to make a second-set comeback.

Until a serving wind named Mireya blew away those hopes.

Mireya Roman’s run of 10 straight service points helped carry the Wolverines to a second-set and match win, Polk Middle posting a 25-21, 25-16 victory over the visiting Blue Devils.

Polk (2-0) trailed 6-5 in the set when Roman began her run. She served nine consecutive points in which Brevard failed to even get a return back over the net. On the 10th, the Devils did keep the ball in play, only to see Kristen Hall tap home a winner to make the Wolverine advantage 15-6.

Brevard would never recover, getting no closer than six points the rest of the way. Roman, fittingly, closed the match with two more serves that the Devils failed to return.

“We needed a boost, and she got on a roll,” said Polk Middle head coach Matthew Russell. “We focus on that every day, and she definitely stepped up today.

“I thought we played better Monday. We made some mental mistakes that we will address in practice. But what matters is that we got a straight-set win, and we like those.”

Polk led early in the first set, but Brevard rallied and tied the set at 18-18. The Wolverines pushed the lead to 22-20 on a Hall ace, then reached set point on a Landry Edwards return of serve that the Devils couldn’t handle.

Sydney Waldman then closed the set with a serve that Brevard failed to return, the service winner giving the Wolverines a 25-21 win.

Polk County hits the road on Tuesday, traveling to face Rugby, the defending Blue Ridge Middle School Conference champions.

“We are looking forward to that one,” Russell said. “That will be the biggest test we have this year.”