Princeton moves into third round of 1-A volleyball playoffs, to host Raleigh Charter

Princeton rallied from a 20-24 deficit in the fourth game, then won a thrilling fifth game to down Lakewood 17-25, 25-23, 21-25, 27-25, 15-13 in the second round of the NCHSAA 1-A volleyball playoffs.

The Bulldogs (18-5) will host Raleigh Charter (15-3) in a third round match up Thursday night. Raleigh Charter (15-3) eliminated Midway in three games on Tuesday night.

Down 20-24 to the Leopards on Tuesday night, Princeton rode the service run of Traci Bridgers to a 25-24 lead. Lakewood broke serve to pull even at 25 but the Bulldogs got the ball right back when a Leopard block attempt went wide. Hannah Wood then came up with a serve the Leopards couldn't get back across the net to pull things even at two games apiece.

"We've played very hard all season and have kept working to improve," said Princeton coach Trudi Rast. "The girls' hard work is showing up now. Our main issue tonight was serving. When we served well we won games, when we didn't, we struggled.

"We were at our best on serve in the last two games."

The Bulldogs never trailed in the fifth and deciding game, although the Leopards (19-4) were able to tie the score six different times. 

Becca Harlan and Hannah Wood had two kills each in the fifth game for Princeton. Wood carried Princeton from a 10-all tie to a 14-10 lead during a service turn that included a ace to force a game point.

The Leopards got back to within 14-13 on consecutive kills from Zanna Faircloth and Devony Hemingway before Harlan ended the match with a kill.