By BY BRUCE HIXON -SPORTS EDITOR
If their two and possibly three remaining contests against each other this season are anything like their first encounter, the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers and W.S. Neal Lady Blue Eagles will have plenty of excitement in store for their followers.
Right now it is not the future that concerns the Lady Blue Eagles. It is a nagging part of their past.
T.R. Miller stayed perfect all-time against its Murder Creek rival Thursday when the host Lady Tigers rallied for a 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-14, 15-11 victory.
The loss was a painful flashback for W.S. Neal coach Britney Shelly. A year ago on the same T.R. Miller court the Lady Blue Eagles also lost a five-set decision to the Lady Tigers in a match where they had a 2-1 set lead.
The loss spoiled a huge individual performance by W.S. Neal senior outside hitter Maggie Crutchfield, who powered home 23 kills to go along with three blocks.
T.R. Miller (2-2) never trailed in the opening set and appeared to have the set well in hand when a defensive point gave it a 24-15 lead.
A defensive point and a seven-point, two-ace service string by Casey Wilson brought the Lady Blue Eagles (1-1) to within 24-23 before Janel McCorvey's defensive tip finally preserved T.R. Miller's victory.
The Lady Tigers overcame a 16-9 deficit in the second set and took a 20-19 on a kill by McCorvey that capped off a four-point service run by Morgan Hubbard.
Crutchfield quickly put W.S. Neal back on top, this time to stay, with a pair of kills and a block on a three-point service string by Wilson.
T.R. Miller was down 24-23 and had a chance to tie the set when a missed serve gave the Lady Blue Eagles the set.
W.S. Neal wiped out a six-point deficit and still trailed 18-14 on its way to the third set win.
T.R. Miller clung to a 22-21 lead when a defensive point and two points by Malary Booker gave W.S. Neal a 24-22 lead.
A defensive kill by Michal Hubbard brought T.R. Miller to within 24-23, but a hitting violation by the Lady Tigers not only cost T.R. Miller a chance to tie the set, but gave the set win to W.S. Neal.
After three straight sets that were not decided until the final play, T.R. Miller finally strung together a decisive win in the fourth set. A trio of points by McCorvey and four by Brandi Kennedy sparked the Lady Tigers to a 13-5 lead.
A trio of kills by McCorvey, and three-point service strings by Rachel Bostic and McCorvey secured the win.
T.R. Miller's decisive fourth set win carried over to the finale. The Lady Tigers raced out to a 9-1 lead on a seven-point string by Morgan Hubbard, which was aided from kills by McCorvey, Kennedy and Neal.
T.R. Miller eventually ran that lead up to 13-4 after an ace by Neal.
A late four-point service run by Katie Goolsby brought W.S. Neal to within 14-11 before Bostic ended the marathon with a defensive kill.
The Lady Tigers also won the junior varsity game 25-16, 25-18.
Leigh Margaret Bostic led T.R. Miller in the opening set with 10 points, while Elizabeth Nelson added seven. Sasha Johnson had six to lead W.S. Neal.
Nelson led the Lady Tigers in set two with six points, while Teralyn Moore added five. Johnson again led W.S. the Lady Blue Eagles with 10 points.
T.R. Miller's next action is Tuesday when it plays a tri-match at Monroe County against the host school and Escambia County. The Lady Tigers junior varsity will also be in action and starts off the day's play at 4 p.m. W.S. Neal is off until Thursday when it hosts Monroe County. That action starts at 4:30 p.m. with the junior varsity game.