BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity volleyball team fell to Bayside rival Bennett, 3-2, on Monday in the state 3A-South sectional semifinal.
The fourth-seeded Seahawks won its opening round match against Northeast, 3-2, last week to earn a rematch with top-seeded Bennett in the Section I semifinal. Bennett had beaten Decatur twice in the regular season, including 3-1 on September 18 and 3-0 on October 7.
The Seahawks got another opportunity against the Clippers when it counted the most in the state regional playoffs and got off to a good start on Monday. Decatur led 2-1 after three games and had the top-seeded Clippers on the ropes. Bennett battled back in the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2. Bennett led early and Decatur battled back before the Clippers prevailed, 25-17, to force a fifth and decisive game.
In the fifth game, Bennett jumped out to a 12-1 lead and never looked back on its way to a 15-7 win. The loss ended a topsy-turvy season for the Seahawks, whose regular season was defined by streaks. After winning their first match, the Seahawks then lost three in a row. Decatur responded to that losing streak by posting three wins straight. The Seahawks then lost three more in a row, and followed that with a four-game win streak.