VERO BEACH — Vero Beach High School’s Lady Indians beat Sebastian River High’s Lady Sharks in a varsity girls’ volleyball match, during their last home game Oct. 15. It had all the makings of a real grudge match as the Indians took down their cross-county rivals in a four-set win.
Vero dominated the first set with Sakkara Hart leading the charge with two devastating spikes in the first few minutes.
The Sharks had a strong second set with an 18 – 25 score.
In the middle of the second set, Sebastian River players Kalin Gabbert, Tiffany Cobb and Akayla Letcher answered nearly every one of the Indians returns on volleys.
Gabbert nailed 9 service points in the second set and more than 17 service points for the entire match.
The third set started with an avalanche of Vero points on service and net play. The roar of the crowd — both Sharks and Indians supporters alike — was deafening as many spectators began chanting school spirit songs.
Sebastian’s attempts to rally were met with strong opposition at every turn.
Sharks player Torri Bethel broke the relentless Indians’ momentum with a huge save in the third set that lead to Sebastian River taking over service with the Sharks trailing 16-8.
Try as they might, the Sharks toehold wouldn’t bring them close to the Indians for very long. The set would end 25-10.
Vero junior Alexandra Lilliquist was instrumental in keeping the pressure up against the Sharks and earned 14 service points overall for the game.
“They all know I usually serve a topspin,” Lilliquist said. “My technique is to send it deep, so it lands in every time.”
The tempo of the game started to wear on her a bit after the first few sets, she said.
“It’s draining,” Lilliquist said. “It makes me really tired, so, for the easier games I try to hold back.”
There were no “sure things” on the court and Sebastian’s rally in the second set and a hard-fought fourth set gave the team pause, she said.
“We were actually getting a little nervous,” Lilliquist said. “We definitely took a step back for a second.”
Indians Head Coach Sarah Eckert said Sebastian River put up a good fight.
“It’s a local match-up and it feels good to come out and play them,” Eckert said. “Players did well on both teams.”
Vero has seasoned players and you can see the teamwork they put forward, she said.
“They just put so much effort into it,” Eckert said.
The next game, versus Okeechobee Oct. 16, means there’s no time to bask in the glory of the win against the Sharks, she said.
“We’ve lost to them the past two years,” Eckert said of playing Okeechobee High School. “I definitely think we’re going to be bringing a different game to them this time.”
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