By DREW GRANTHUM / Sports Writer

The Chelsea Hornets took on the Spain Park Jaguars at home Sept. 10 in a battle of AHSAA Class 6A area unbeatens.

In what was a tightly contested match, the Jaguars came out on top, 3-1.

The first set opened with the Hornets jumping out to an 11-7 lead, but Spain Park used a 7-0 run to take the lead 12-11. The two squads battled back and forth through the rest of match, with Chelsea holding a 20-19 lead late. The Jaguars used a 5-3 run to capture the first set, 25-22.

The second set saw the Jaguars score the first point, but Chelsea quickly came back, taking a 2-1 lead. The Hornets never looked back, taking down Spain Park 25-18.

The third set would not be as fortunate for the Hornets. Spain Park kept out to a 12-6 lead, and never trailed in the set, capturing a 25-14 win.

With their back against the wall, the Hornets came out fighting in the fourth set. The Hornets opened a 4-2 lead early, but the Jaguars came back to take a 5-4 advantage. The match was not with out controversy, however, as Spain Park gained a 24-23 lead on a ruling that Chelsea’s Destinee Benton touched the net on a close play. The home crowd felt the net was pushed into Benton, but the ruling stood, giving Spain Park the point.

Chelsea gained the lead once more, 25-24, but Spain Park was able to come back and take a 27-25 win in the set, taking the 3-1 win in the match as well.

Spain Park coach Paula Dill said despite the intensity of the match, she felt her team stuck to their game plan.

“We executed,” she said. “We knew they were a scrappy team. They’re very talented.”

Madison Turner had 11 kills, 10 digs and five assists for the Hornets. Benton finished with 13 kills, nine digs and an assist. Emma Cotney had 15 digs.

For the Jaguars, Jordan Nakayama had six kills and 11 assists, while Morgan Scott had 11 kills and nine digs.