Volleyball: Knights Win Five-Set Thriller vs. Raptors

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD -- The Knights improved to 5-4 in Maryland JUCO Conference play on Tuesday, after dispatching Montgomery College 3-2 before a home crowd at the CCBC Essex Wellness and Athletics Center.

Heading into the game against the Raptors, the Knights were 0-7 in five-set matches this season and are now hopeful that this win is the spark they've looked for all season. 

In an odd twist of events, the team that served first in the set would go on to lose each time.

Good thing the Knights began serving in the even numbered sets. 

Each set was a nail-biter.

The Knights took the first set of the night 25-23, followed by the Raptors taking the second by the same score.

In the third set, the Knights started strong, with leads of 10-4 and 13-6. The Raptors fought back, but Essex won the set 25-19.

The fourth was back and forth for the first 21 points. Montgomery pulled away mid-set and despite a strong serving performance from Whitney Chappell (Baltimore Polytechnic), the Knights fell 25-21.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Raptors jumped out to 4-1 lead.

The Knights would score seven of the next 12 points to close within one, then tied it at 10.

Sophomore Maggie Williams (Loch Raven) hit a kill to tie it again at 13 and the Knights won the next two points on her serves to close out the victory. 

Freshman Sabrina Bradford (Hereford) led the Knights with 12 kills, added five service aces and 17 digs.

Williams and sophomore Mikayla Forbes (Sparrows Point) had nine kills each.

Chappell had a team-high 36 assists and 21 digs.

Next up for the Knights

CCBC Essex will travel tonight to take on Frederick Community College. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Rebecca Plantholt contributed to this article.