Down seven points. One point away from being forced into a fifth set.
No problem.
In one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Montverde Academy girls volleyball memory, the Eagles erased a 24-17 deficit in the fourth set, scoring nine consecutive points to stun George Jenkins High School, 26-24, and complete a thrilling 3-1 road victory Friday evening.
MVA dropped the opening set, 25-20, before responding with back-to-back victories of 25-18 and 25-20 to take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Then came a fourth set that won't soon be forgotten.
George Jenkins raced out to a commanding 15-1 advantage, putting the Eagles in an enormous hole. But MVA slowly worked its way back into the set, but when the host Eagles reached set point with a 24-17 advantage, a fifth set still appeared all but inevitable.
Enter Janiyah Miller.
With Miller at the service line, MVA refused to let the set end. She delivered a string of aggressive, pressure-packed serves as MVA fought off seven consecutive set points. Point after point, the Eagles chipped away at the deficit until 24-17 had suddenly become 24-24.
MVA wasn't finished.
The Eagles captured the next two points as well, completing an incredible 9-0 run to turn 15-1 and 24-17 deficits into a 26-24 victory and close out the match in four sets.
Miller finished the night with eight service aces, with several coming during MVA's decisive fourth-set rally. She also recorded three kills, two assists, three blocks and three digs.
While Miller provided the late-match heroics, the comeback was a complete team effort. Four Eagles finished with double-digit kills, led by Suhmer Henriques, who recorded 15 kills, two assists, three blocks and seven digs. Natalia Baquerizo added 13 kills, two assists, one block and four digs, while Eva Bardales turned in an outstanding all-around performance with 12 kills, three aces, three blocks and 14 digs. Bianca Baquerizo also reached double figures with 12 kills and two blocks.
Mya Tyson contributed four kills and three blocks, while Rosabella Palanti recorded 11 digs, 18 serve receptions while holding down the libero position.
Remarkably, Friday night's comeback was the second time in three years that MVA stared down a 24-17 deficit and found a way to win.
On September 5, 2024, the Eagles trailed East Ridge High School by that exact score at home in the first set before mounting another improbable rally to win the set. Nearly two years later, MVA does it again — this time on the road and with the victory finishing off the match.
JV Sweeps George Jenkins
Earlier in the evening, the junior varsity team improved to 3-0 on the season after a 2-0 (26-24, 25-19) victory.
MVA returns to the court on Tuesday September 1 for a match at home against Winter Park High School, starting with the junior varsity match at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity match at 6:00 p.m.
