Not that Wednesday needed any more emotion for Polk County Middle’s volleyball team.
The Wolverines entered their regular-season finale knowing it would be their final match, with the Blue Ridge Conference postseason tourney limited to just four teams this year. That also meant the last time on court for the team’s three eighth graders and assistant coach Donna Hall, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Polk Middle responded to the day’s many feelings by adding plenty of on-court drama, very nearly knocking off East Division co-champion Rugby Middle before falling 22-25, 26-24, 15-10 at PCMS.
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Short of a win, nothing could have pleased head coach Kenny Hall more than the effort the Wolverines (6-7) delivered.
“It’s just a testament that we’ve been working hard as a team, regardless of the playoff implications,” Hall said. “Being out of school and all of that, the girls have come to practice and worked hard every day.
“Today was a great testament to their work ethic, their competitiveness and their desire to win. It’s just a good way to end it. At the end of the day, the girls really played well.”
Polk Middle jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the opening set on a Kenzie Alm serving run and led 15-4 before Rugby began to rally. The Raiders closed to within 17-14, only to see the Wolverines score seven of the next nine points to grab a 24-16 lead and set point.
Rugby clung to hope with a 6-0 run, pulling within 24-22 before Polk notched a point to take the opening set.
The Wolverines trailed much of the second set and faced a 22-17 deficit before putting together a run of seven straight points, surging to a 24-22 lead and match point. But Rugby forced a side out and served the next three points to take the set and force a deciding third set.
Rugby grabbed control of the third set with a six-point run to take a 9-4 lead. Polk fought back and closed to within 12-10 before the Raiders served out the set and match.
“Losing our three eighth graders is going to hurt, but we have a tremendous amount of kids coming back next year, and our JV team was dynamite today (winning 25-14),” Hall said. “We’re just super proud of them and super proud of the fight they showed today.”
