With its back against the wall in the fifth and decisive set, the Three Rivers volleyball team rallied from a three-point deficit and a Berrien Springs match point to peel off five consecutive points for a 16-14 victory.
Teagan Reeves
And remaining undefeated in the Wolverine Conference required a grind-it-out mentality through the first four sets as well, with the Wildcats claiming a 25-19 win in the first game, dropping the next 24-26, winning the third 28-26 and losing the fourth 23-25.
“We played tough all night,” said Three Rivers coach Brandy Stalhood, whose team climbed to 15-6-5 overall and 5-0 in the league. “Each game was a tight battle. We did a great job at the net blocking and touched a lot of balls, which helped our defense. We were down in the fifth 11-14 and kept our composure, dug in, and pulled out the victory. Teagan Reeves also earned her 1,000th career kill tonight during the match.”
Reeves, a middle blocker bound for Western Michigan University next season, wasn’t even aware she was approaching the major milestone.
“I was really excited when my coach told me after the game that I had achieved 1,000 kills in my career,” she said. “I had no idea that I was even close because we have always been a team that is not very involved in stats. I am so thankful for the teammates that I have because I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.
“I think we worked really well as a team tonight and great things were happening at the right time. It was a very tough match and Berrien Springs has a few great players. We were able to work together and overcome deficits at crucial times in the match.”