Bucs take 5-set thriller from Jags

In a back-and-forth match on Tuesday night, the Hoover High School volleyball team prevailed over Spain Park in the fifth set, winning the match 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 22-25, 15-9).

The outcome looked all but certain after the first two sets, with the Bucs winning both comfortably. But towards the end of the second set, the Jags gained the momentum and made the contest a thriller.

The third set was a tight affair until the last few points, as Spain Park ran away with the set. Hoover jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the fourth, but mental errors were the Bucs' undoing as the Jags finished it off, winning by three.

Hoover took control early in the fifth set and won the final one in short order to improve to 18-6 on the season.

Spain Park (12-6) got contributions from all of its hitters, as Karlee Moss led the way with 16 kills. Marlee Johnson added 15 kills from the outside, along with 14 kills from Sha'Kevia Hogan.

Paige Shaw led the Bucs statistically, with 12 kills and 17 digs.

Ellie Norton chipped in 43 assists for Spain Park. Moss had 7 blocks and 6 digs. Johnson finished with 19 digs. Hogan registered 11 digs and 4 blocks.

Spain Park plays at Huffman on Thursday. Hoover travels to Virginia this weekend to play in the Endless Summer High School Volleyball Tournament.