I've now been to two East Wake volleyball games, both of them have lasted more than two hours, gone into a fifth game, and the Warriors have held on for the win on both visits.
The match at Knightdale was just like the tennis match held at Knightdale the week before. Of course, Knightdale won the tennis match, not East Wake, the thought still applies. It lasted forever and was just another quality battle between the two neighboring schools — another one for the books.
I witnessed a sparkle diminish in the unbelieving eyes of Knightdale's netters at the Lady Warriors dug themselves out of a sure loss that wasn't so sure in hindsight. Nine times out of 10 I could've left that gym and swore it was over, and then the team rallied for three straight games that were in no way freebies. If I were on that Warrior team down two games I would have been willing to bet money on Knightdale to finish the third game with equal ease. East Wake, rather than getting over emotional, seemed numb to the two-game Knight lead. And next thing you know, they're scoring in a "Hmm, how about that?" way, and they persevered.
It hurts my head to watch games like that. The real story on the game changed five times over the course of the night, and it's tough to talk to a coach in need of a first win that just gave up an odds-setting lead, then turn the other way and get the "I'm going to Disneyland" quote from the other.
But just like Knightdale's Sally Combs said,"Kudos to East Wake." The Warriors proved what prep sports prove across the nation every week — anything and everything can happen.
