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Central comeback topples rival Highland Park

By Lila Scher, MN Volleyball Hub Student Reporter, 09/04/13, 6:00PM CDT

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Ask any St. Paul Central student who their biggest rival is - the answer will always be St. Paul Highland Park. Sporting events between the two schools are consistantly the most intense, with the highest stakes of any other game. 

Last night's volleyball game was no exception. The game marked the conference opener for both Central and Highland Park, and fans and players alike agreed it would be one of the biggest games of either teams season.

The first set started out slowly, with Highland taking an early lead over Central. Highland senior (and co-captain) Edith Kamau showed her offensive strength at the net right away, while junior Annie Conzet repeatedly made impressive sets to her team mates. Central also showed offensive strength early on, but their defense failed to keep up with Highland's continous attacks. Highland Park took the first set, 25-11. The second set continued in the same manner with Highland taking an early lead. Central showing offensive strength, but coming up short on defense. Highland Park took the second set, 25-11.

The third set of the game was when things began to get interesting. Following the trend of the night, Highland Park took an early lead. This time, however, Central came back, point by point, to make it a tie game halfway through. The set got much more exciting, as the lead switched teams with every point. Every fan in both student sections was on their feet, cheering their own girls on. At game point Central made an amazing play and took the third set, 25-23. 

The fourth set was amazingly close, with point-by-point lead switches, it could've been anyones game. Central sophomore Kennedy Gay showed off her offensive skills, continuously attacking the Highland net and double blocking the oppositions attacks with teammate Kaylee Dupay, a junior. Highland Park refused to back down, with junior Molly McMahon and sophomore Emilia Czapiewska repeatedly slamming balls down to Central, testing their defensive abilities. In the end, Central was able to keep the lead, and they took the fourth set, 25-23.

With the cheers of the crowd, not even a siren would have been heard. Keeping with the theme of the night, the set was close from the very beginning. Central's defense began to pick up what they had been lacking all night, and senior Hannah Wolf was getting amazing set ups by fellow senior Kayla Lyell (who had a total of 21 assists) and making equally amazing attacks, generating a total of 12 kills. With the assistance of junior Annie Dombrock stuffing Highland Park's attacks right back at them, both teams tied at game point. Point-by-point the game went up to 18, when Central ended the game with a kill. Central took the fifth set, 18-16. 

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