On Saturday Oct. 15, NECC Knights defeated the Bulldogs three sets to two In the first game of a tri-match against Bunker Hill Community College.

The Knights lost the first set 25-18, the Knights won the second set 27-25, the Knights lost the third set 25-17, the Knights won the fourth set 25-21 and the Knights won the decisive set five 15-9.

The last time the Knights faced the Bulldogs prior to this matchup was in Sept. 29. That didn’t go well for the Knights way back in Charlestown as they were knocked around in three straight set.

“We find a few different focuses for the game and I feel like getting some different ones definitely work so I think definitely that helped them win,” said Assistant head coach Marissa Reardon.

The game officially started at 11:03 a.m.

The Knights was down 3-1 to start this contest but they tied the game at three.

A good save by Caroline Burns  of Haverhill  for the Knights prevented the Bulldogs from scoring.

A good spike by Burns put this game 8-5 in favor of the Knights. The Bulldogs rotation was wrong to put this game 9-6 in favor of the Knights.

The Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run against the Knights before the Knights finally could attack a run.

The Knights were down by nine 23-14 when the Knights called a timeout.

After the timeout the Knights settled in a little, the Knights scored two more and the Bulldogs one more to make this game 24-16 and a spike by Burns made this game 24-17 but it wasn’t enough as the Knights lost the first set 25-18.

“Definitely after the first set we were definitely pushing the girls we did try a different rotation and again rotations are hit and miss on how it i going to go in. Certain rotation work and certain parts of the rotation don’t work,” said Reardon.

In the second set Bulldogs were on a 4-0 run before Burns spike made it 4-1. The Knights scored the next two points to make it 4-3 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Knights eventually tied the game at seven but couldn’t take the lead.

Kaithlene Perez-Flores of Lowell spike tied the game at eight.

The Bulldogs went on a run against the Knights. The Knights were down by four when they came back to tie the game at 13.

The Knights were s down by five, they were losing 20 to 5 when coach Reardon called a timeout.

After the time out the Knights settled in and make this game close. Perez-Flores was serving and made two straight points.

The Knights were up 25-24 and needed one more point to win, but instead the Bulldogs tied it at 25.

The Knights made the next two and won the second set 27-25.

In the third set the Knights were down three to one when they tied the game and took the lead 4-3. The Knights were up 5-3 when Bunker Hill scored three straight point to make it 6 to 5. The Knights eventually tied the game.

It was a good game early in the third set back and forth battle. The Knights were down by four 17-13 when coach Reardon called a timeout.

The Bulldog went on a run to increase the lead over the Knights.

The Bulldogs won set three over the Knights 25-17.

In set four the Knights were down early but they came back to tie the game at 7.

The Knights made it 10-7.

The Knights were up 16-12 when the Bulldogs’ miscommunicated as the ball landed between them.

The Knights called a time out when they were winning by three, six points away from winning the set.

The Bulldogs came back and made it a one point game as they took the lead 20-19.

The Knights tied the game at 21 as the ball was in.

Burns took the lead as they were up 22-21 with a spike.

I had a chance to talk to Burns after the game and talk to her about her performance.

“I think I just really want them to beat them since they beat us last time. So I tried to put my A game and get excited. It’s hard to get excited early in the morning but we all kinda hyped each other up and it’s also nice that your teammates are comforting and cheering you on,” said Burns.

Burns also said that they were working on stamina, to communicate better and work together as a team as a whole.

The Knights late in the game went on a 7-2 run to finish the set as they won 25-21 and forced a decisive set five.

In the decisive set five you need to win by 15 points to win the set.

In the beginning of the fifth set it was a good battle, back and forth game before the Knights increased their lead by three as they were up 8 to 5 and both teams switch sides.

The Knights were up 12 to 8 when the Bulldog coach called a timeout.

The Knights went on to win the decisive game five 15 to 9.