By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
One may not be able to predict the outcome of W.S. Neal Lady Blue Eagle volleyball matches, but there is one prediction that has turned into a pretty safe bet.
It will go five sets.
W.S. Neal's last three regular season matches last year that used a best-of-five format went fives sets. So far this season the first three matches have also gone the distance. That includes Thursday's 25-18, 25-23, 15-23, 20-25, 15-10 home win over the Monroe County Lady Tigers.
Megan Pence led W.S. Neal (2-1) to the first set win with six points, while Malary Booker added five.
Maggie Crutchfield paced the scoring list for the Lady Blue Eagles in the set two win with six points, while Booker again had five.
Sydney Andrews topped the scoring list for the home team in set three with six points, while Booker had four. Casey Wilson had six points to lead W.S. Neal in set four, while Andrews added five.
Crutchfield had four points to lead the Lady Blue Eagles in the decisive fifth set, while Katie Goolsby and Pence had the last three. Pence's three points were the final three of the match.
W.S. Neal's junior varsity also had to go the distance before it edged Monroe County 25-19, 17-25, 15-11.
Sasha Johnson had 10 points to lead the Lady Blue Eagles (2-1), while Whitney Douglas added eight in the first set.
Johnson again led W.S. Neal in set two with five points, while Rachel Browder added four.
Athena Davis stepped up with a team-high five points to lead the Lady Blue Eagles in set three, while Browder had four.
W.S. Neal's lone match next week is Tuesday when it hosts Flomaton. Play gets underway at 4 p.m. with a middle school match followed by the junior varsity and varsity matches.