The Falls Lake Academy Firebirds defeated the Northside-Pinetown Panthers in the third round of the NCHSAA 1A volleyball playoffs on Thursday, Oct. 22.
The Firebirds honed its skills in the three set, 25-12, 25-20 and 25-18 win over the visiting Panthers, to advance to the fourth round of the playoffs.
Both teams had a tough time holding serve in the opening minutes , but Falls Lake Academy managed to find its rhythm first with Mackenzie Hudson serving a pair of winners to go along with an array of winning shots from Devanee Wampler. Kendall Peed killed the ball as the Firebirds rolled to a seven point lead at 10-3.
Falls Lake Academy continued to give the Panthers a workout with difficult plays around the net.
Lily Voss was able to score with a powerful back row attack and Wampler crushed a ball to the corner of the back row to give Falls Lake Academy a 12-point advantage.
Carson Outland, Voss and Hudson clicked off quick points with tips and banging kills.
The Firebirds earned a 25-12 first set win.
The teams got off to an even start in the second set before Addison Buffaloe began to find the sweet spot with the serve and pushed the Falls Lake Academy led to six points…