Amid an electric atmosphere befitting its top-10 high school volleyball matchup, No. 9 Paul Laurence Dunbar rallied from two sets down to knock off No. 7 Frederick Douglass in a dramatic five-set thriller Thursday at The Farm.
The two-time defending 11th Region champion Bulldogs overcame a dangerous Broncos team who enjoyed raucous support from a large student section that included the Douglass pep band, an unusual sight at a regular-season volleyball game.
“I told them we were going to come into an environment that was not welcoming, and I don’t think I’ve ever coached a game where there’s been a pep band,” Dunbar coach Jenni Morgan said, smiling. “This is what it’s about. You want to watch volleyball grow, and it has. To come into an environment like this with two public schools is awesome.”
Douglass had its home faithful rocking early with 25-20 wins in each of the first two sets as Dunbar struggled to keep pace with the Broncos’ attack.
“Volleyball is a roller coaster and you’re going to have your highs and lows,” Morgan said. “We’ve been working on chemistry and trust. It’s a new team, and I tell them all the time … ‘If we focus on where we are now and continue to get better than we are going to head in the right direction.’”