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Hudson Comes Back To Beat Ridgewood

COBRAS 3, RAMS 2

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Ridgewood's Daylyn Williamson hits a back set during Thursday night's first of five games against Hudson.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 23, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - If at first you don't succeed...

That fitting cliché describes Hudson's Thursday night, come-from-behind win at Ridgewood to a tee. After dropping the match's first two games, 24-26 and 22-25, respectively, the Cobras slowly but surely got into gear and outlasted Ridgewood during a two-hour and five-minute long battle of wills.

"When we start going, we do OK," Hudson head coach Linda McQuade said afterward, adding that it's a good win for her girls heading into district play next week. "We can use the last two games better than we can use the first three."

All five games were tightly contested, with extraordinary volleys and digs coming from both sides of the net. Two such exchanges during Game 4 epitomized the sense that the ball was beginning to bounce in Hudson's favor.

To tie the game up at 16-16, Hudson libero Jessica Christianson sped to the back line to save a ball careening off a ceiling tile in the Ridgewood gym. The second came six Cobra points later as the back row again had to scramble to return a shot off of the overhead stage track lighting. Both instances resulted in Hudson points.

Aside from the unconventional plays, the Cobras took away Ridgewood's momentum primarily by being more consistent at the net on offense. The Rams were visibly on the defense during the last two games while Hudson executed its kill attempts more effectively.

Frontliners Cara Carley, Shannon Zasloff and Jessica Imbimbo combined for 36 kills, with Carley and Zasloff each hitting 13.

In the backcourt, Christianson led all players with 30 digs.

Hudson (17-7) took the initial lead in all five games, only to see Ridgewood (13-8) fight back for it during the first three. Much of that was due to the Rams play up front defensively and middle hitter Lauren Vanker. The sophomore totaled seven blocks and added five kills offensively.

Junior Sarangelys Cruz led the Rams attack with 10 kills and sisters Daylyn and Aleesa Williamson combined for 13. Daylyn and Madison Pretto each set up 12 assists a piece as well.

Both teams are finished with regular season play and will move on to their respective district tournaments as No. 2 seeds next week.

Hudson enters Class 4A, District 8 play behind No. 1 seeded Nature Coast Tech and will be at Wiregrass Ranch for their tournament. Matches start on Monday and the Cobras first will be Tuesday.

Ridgewood is hosting the District 5A-7 tourney that gets underway Tuesday. River Ridge is the No. 1 seed in that bracket.

SCORING:

HUDSON ------- 24 --- 22 --- 25 --- 25 --- 15
RIDGEWOOD -- 26 --- 25 --- 22 --- 19 --- 9

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com

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