The Lady Horses volleyball team faced East Duplin again for the third time this season. This go around it was in the conference tournament on Tuesday night, where they lost to the Panthers 3-1.

The Horses have lost all three matches up against East Duplin this year. Though they started out strong, the Panthers have just had their number all season.

Clinton also had some new faces on the roster for the conference tourney who were players recently brought up from the JV team. Zana Barefoot and Libby Cashwell both added some sparks for CHS when they were on the floor, but it still wasn’t enough to topple the Panthers.

The Horses started the night on fire completely owning East Duplin in the first set. They moved well during the entire set and their play at the net was excellent. This prompted them to win the opening set of the night 25-17.

From then on it was all East Duplin, specially in sets two and four where they dominated Clinton. Set two the Panthers adjusted to the previous set problems, taking the set by nine winning it 25-16.

Set three was the most intense match of the night. Clinton was down down 17-10 at one point as East Duplin was making pace to easily take another set. Then a Horse timeout changed everything, after the timeout ended they continued to fight back and managed to tie the set at 21-21.

However, they couldn’t keep their composure as they allowed East Duplin to score four straight points and take the set 25-21.

Clinton fell apart after that as they were dominated the worse in the fourth and final set of the night. Clinton just couldn’t get any momentum back losing by the biggest margin of the night 25-10.

“We started off strong in the first set, then after that we were just late on our feet and we lost our movement,” said Dark Horse coach Jennifer Edgerton.

Clinton leaders were Taylor Spell with six kills, Jasmine Ford with seven solo blocks, one double block and two aces and Naomi Miller led in digs with 12.

The Dark Horses finish the year 12-13. They now play the waiting game now to see if they make the playoffs this season.

Britt Thornton prepares to serve for the Horses in their loss to East Duplin in the conference tournament.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_CHSvball1.jpgBritt Thornton prepares to serve for the Horses in their loss to East Duplin in the conference tournament.

Taylor Spell with the soft touch over the net as the Panthers win the rematch between theses two teams.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_CHSvball.jpgTaylor Spell with the soft touch over the net as the Panthers win the rematch between theses two teams.

By Michael Hardison

Sports Editor

Reach Michael Hardison at [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SampsonInd.