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Published: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012 / Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012 03:55 PM

Playoff berth within reach for Lady Jackets, but time running out

By Mac Banks - mbanks@comporium.net

FORT MILL -- 

To say the Fort Mill Lady Jackets volleyball season has been up and down is an understatement. Their record says enough.

Right at .500 with a 10-11-1 record, the Lady Jackets have a tendency this season to win one match and then turn around and lose a match.

Playing that way puts them in a position to get into the playoffs, but it also puts them in a vulnerable spot as well.

Fort Mill swept Lancaster last week 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-23), but then turned right around and fell to Northwestern in five games 3-2 (25-10, 20-25, 24-26, 27-25, 4-15).

Against Lancaster, Fort Mill won the first game, but had to rally to come back. The Lady Jackets trailed 7-4 early, but then battled to take a 10-8 lead.

Both teams kept things close and were tied at 17 before Fort Mill rattled off six straight points to go up 23-17 before closing the first game out.

In the second game, it was all Fort Mill controlling things from the opening serve as the Lady Jackets quickly went up 5-1 and then 10-2.

The Lady Jackets would push their lead to 16-5 before closing the second game out 25-12.

However, just like their season has shown, Fort Mill allowed Lancaster to climb back into the match in the third game instead of closing it out.

Fort Mill started out 9-6, but Lancaster hung around and made a game of it as the Lady Bruins fought back to tie the game at 22 before the Lady Jackets would hold on for the win.

Senior Hannah Kate Christopher and freshman Alex Morrison each had seven kills. Juniors Danielle Gibson and Liza Walker had nine digs each. Senior Caroline Lewis had 27 assists.

Fort Mill sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in Region III-AAAA and needs to beat South Pointe to better its chances of making the playoffs.

Fort Mill plays South Pointe and Charlotte County Day this week before finishing the regular season against Nation Ford.