Trailing in a fifth-set match point Wednesday night at home, the GPS volleyball team handled the pressure-packed moment against East Hamilton to beat a program hoping to make a third straight trip to the Class AA state tournament next month.
Chapel Cunningham rose high at the left side of the net for back-to-back kills to help the Bruisers close the door on their fourth straight win, and her shot placement was exceptional in the match. The junior finished with a season-high 17 kills and broke a tie late in a bounce-back second set with consecutive aces to the back left corner.
GPS (13-9) won the match by the set scores of 11-25, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 17-15.
“We knew to win this match it would take a lot of fight, and East Hamilton was going to stay up against us,” Cunningham said. “I know if I do my job, everybody else will do theirs and we can create good energy. I also look up to Preslee (Brooksbank) a lot. She is a great leader and has helped us out a lot this season.”
Brooksbank scored four straight points for GPS in the tiebreaking finish and led all with 19 kills.