Frank Speziale Photo

OXFORD – For the third meeting this season, the Oxford Blackhawks and Unadilla Valley Storm volleyball teams have played five games matches to determine the winner. All three matches saw Oxford come out as the winners, including the 3-2 win for the Blackhawks but not without a battle from the Storm in each meeting.

“It is always great playing UV because it is always an exciting competition between the girls,” said Oxford’s head coach Kim Martin. “It was a great game for our last home match of the season.”

Tuesday’s match, a win-or-go home game, started out with Unadilla Valley firing first as Erin Kelly served up an ace to kick off the action but Oxford earned the serve one point later. Andrea Dempsey of the Blackhawks then placed a deep serve into the left side corner for an ace of her own to give her team a 2-1 lead.

Later in the first set, Oxford led 6-3 but UV’s Holly Carpenter took a swing for a nice kill to give the serve back to the Storm. At that point, the momentum shifted into the Unadilla Valley’s favor. Jenna Hitt kept the serve for six straight points, giving UV a 10-6 lead before the Blackhawks’ Martin called a time out to regroup her girls.

Following the quick break, the two teams exchanged a few points before Sierra Schrag helped the Storm extend their lead to 13-8. In fact, it was the serving points by all Unadilla Valley players the allowed them to gain the big lead as the team as whole recorded several aces during the game one.

Oxford’s six on the floor appeared to be full of jitters and the Storm took advantage as they continued to build on their 23-11 lead. That was until the Blackhawks’ Allison Beckwith dumped the ball over the net. Oxford started to cut into the UV margin but the Storm finished the first game with a final of 25-15.

Game two of the match started off with the teams going point for point. Both teams were making the plays they needed to come away with the point.

At point nine of the match, Oxford and UV engaged in a long volley until the Blackhawks set up a sneak attacking by pushing the the ball over the net to win the point.

Point 11 also saw a long rally with the ball being sent back and forth over the net. This time, the point went in favor of the Storm.

With the score at 7-7, point 15 fell the same way as the two teams volleyed for several hits before the ball ended up hitting the floor on the Blackhawks’ side of the net. Following the point, Unadilla Valley took a 10-7 lead. Oxford’s Martin once again called a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Oxford came firing back to tie the score at 11-11. The game went back to the two teams duking it out with many ties and lead changed exchanged.

The Blackhawks were able to separate themselves from the visiting team by three points and looked to close out the game for the 1-1 tie in the match. The Storm, however, came rolling back to cut the lead down to 23-22. Oxford ended the game two points later, winning 25-22.

It appeared as if the nerves the Blackhawks that were displayed earlier in the match disappeared. They continued their strong play from the end of game two and carried it into game three, jumping out to an early 5-1 lead. The Storm quickly closed the gap, going on a small three point run to cut the deficit down to a single point.