Early into the 2021 season, and the Brookings-Harbor varsity girls volleyball team has become a tale of two teams. On Saturday, March 6th, the Lady Bruins hosted the Lady Lancers from Sutherlin, and an awakening happened on the court. The same team that dropped three straight sets to Cascade Christian earlier in the week, did not show up Saturday against the Lady Lancers.
In the first set, Sutherlin looked to set the tone, and with a few Lady Bruin mental mistakes and errors, South Umpqua took the set after a late Lady Bruin rally. Even though the Lady Lancers won this first set, you could sense Brookings-Harbor building momentum, as the Lady Bruins challenged every ball.
In the second set, it was clear, a different team was on the floor, as the Lady Bruins literally threw themselves into the match led again by seniors Sierra Fitzhugh, Shelby Jirsa and Gracie Harms. The Lady Bruins jumped out ahead of Sutherlin in the 2nd, and never let Sutherlin in the set, tying the match at 1-1.
In the 3rd set South Umpqua realized they were in fight, and challenged the Lady Bruins at the net. After the Lady Lancers took a small lead in the set, Brookings-Harbor rose to the challenge, regained control, and hustled their way to another set win.
In the 4th, the Lady Lancers down 2 sets to 1, regrouped and took a commanding 11-2 lead, but the determined Lady Bruins could taste it now, and furiously fought their way back into the set behind Shelby Jirsa who had 14 digs in the match, junior #1 Charlie Nolte who had 10 digs and #14 Gracie Harms who also had 8 digs. Senior #4 Shelby Jirsa also had 22 assists, followed by sophomore #6 Cameron Crosby with 15.
But it was the play at the net that surprised the Lady Lancers, Senior #4 Shelby Jirsa led the team with 17 kills, followed by senior middle blocker #5 Sierra Fitzhugh with 14 and 4 blocks.
But the comeback in the set would fall short and the Lady Lancers would take the set and take that momentum into the 5th and never trail.
Talking with Head Coach Lorinda Shew after the match, she said…”I was proud of how the girls came back strong to take those two sets and almost took the 4th, but we struggled a little in the 4th set, and that allowed South Umpqua to carryover to the first six points of the final set. The girls rallied back, and I think that showed a lot of heart, but they just couldn’t carry it off to the end.” she said. “We are going to keep working very hard for more wins.”
