Viqueen voyage continues to sectional

The uncharted waters continue to run deeper and deeper for a history-making Community volleyball team.

The Viqueens outlasted Nashville Christian 3-2 in the Region 5-A semifinals on Tuesday night.

After a total of 10 sets and roughly four straight hours on the hardwood between its two matches, Community was a single point away from securing the region title on two occasions before falling 3-2 to White House-Heritage.

Both matches were gut-wrenching and to the very last whistle in the first region tournament ever played in Unionville.

"It's very emotionally draining," Community coach Allison Layne said. "It's just from one extreme to the other. Sometimes emotionally draining is more than physically draining."

The Viqueens (5-14) fell behind early 2-1 in the first set with White-House Heritage before scoring five straight points and coasting to a 25-13 win.

The second set was much the same with the Purple and Gold never trailing en route to a 25-16 triumph.

The District 10-A champion Lady Patriots, who entered the tourney with more wins than all of District 9-A combined, were forced by their coach to do push-ups during a timeout since they were playing so poorly.

Everything changed in the third set.

"We went from playing hard and passing the ball and talking out there to doing nothing. We didn't communicate at all," Layne said.

Community trailed much of the way before pulling even at 14. However, WHH (25-6) kicked it into gear and took it 25-19.

The Lady Patriots, who ended Eagleville's season in the first match of the afternoon, kept the throttle down in the fourth set, cruising to a 25-20 win.

"It's all about momentum, especially in volleyball. Going into the third (set), I think we just got a little overconfident. We misjudged a couple passes. Then, we shanked a couple off," Layne said.

"We had the (set) won and just didn't take care of business."

In the fifth and deciding set, the Viqueens jumped on top 3-0 behind the serving of Georgia Ralston and led much of the way.

Fans, coaches and players gasped for air as the teams were knotted at 13-all in a race to 15 (having to win by two).

Community had the region plaque just outside its fingertips, holding leads of 14-13 and 15-14. They also fought off WHH's first match-point before eventually falling 18-16.

Kassidy Lane led the Viqueens with 13 kills, seven service points and four aces. Ralston scored 10 points, eight kills and four aces. Megan Busbee pounded out eight kills. Katie Maselter added 13 points and eight aces.

The loss means the Viqueens must go on the road for their sectional matchup with Summertown, who swept Loretto 3-0 in the Region 6-A final. Due to a conflict with basketball, that elimination match takes place at the Summertown Elementary School gym on Thursday night at 7.

Community 3, Nashville Christian 2: The Viqueens came from being down 2-1 to winning their first-ever region match since the program's inception in 1998 by scores of 25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 17-15.

With its backs against the wall and its season on the line, Community never trailed in the fourth set.

The teams were tied nine separate times in the fifth and deciding set.

Ralston piled up 12 points, 10 kills and five aces. Lauren Freeman contributed eight points and six kills. Busbee pitched in 10 kills and four blocks. Lane had nine kills. Tiffany Davis added 14 points and five aces. Ashley Orlando served up 13 points and five aces.