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Spain Park picked up a big area win against the Vestavia Hills Rebels on Tuesday, Sept. 11, in just four sets. (For the Reporter/Larry Dancy)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor

VESTAVIA HILLS – A tight second-set blemish was the only negative to an otherwise dominant night for the Spain Park Jaguars’ volleyball team, who took down the Vestavia Hills Rebels 3-1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-22, 25-20) in an area matchup on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

While it was a strong night for the Jags, who were able to play consistent throughout the match, it wasn’t a runaway victory as the Rebels kept each set interesting and could have made it a different outcome had they snuck out a close third set.

The entire match was closely contested featuring several back-and-forth sets, but the first two sets specifically set the stage.

In the first set, while the Rebels kept it close at times, Spain Park seemed in control and pulled away late for a 25-19 victory to open the match with a 1-0 victory.

Vestavia knew how important it was to win the second set, as falling behind 2-0 means you have to win three sets in a row to come out of the match victorious.

Sure enough, the Rebels showed plenty of poise, which led to an incredible set between the two area rivals.

Tied 25-25, which is the normal set point, the two teams were forced to continue playing until there was a winner by two.

Each team won a point over the next two points to tie the score again at 26-26 as set point was being staved off, but that’s when the Rebels put together crucial back-to-back points to take the second set 28-26 to tie the match 1-1.

That excitement didn’t stop at the end of the first set, as the next closest set of the match ensued in the third.

Battling point-for-point, Vestavia Hills gave another valiant effort, but the Jags were able to close out a set point up 24-22 to pull off the victory and to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Down 2-1 in the best-of-five match, the Rebels were now in a must-win situation in the fourth set to force a fifth and deciding set.

Spain Park, however, carried over its momentum from the second-set victory and pulled off its second largest set win of the night by a final of 25-20 to claim the area victory.

With no set being determined by more than six points, it was tightly contested throughout, but the Jags were able to make more plays late in sets to pull off the win.

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