The varsity volleyball team started off Oakland Activities Association play on the right note with a hard fought, come from behind five set victory over North Farmington on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Oxford won the first set 25-18 and charged ahead to a 23-18 lead in the second set and a 24-19 lead in the third before letting both leads slip away.
The Wildcats lost the second set 25-23 and the third set 26-24.
‘We had zero offense at the end of those two sets and we had no offense because we couldn’t pass the ball to the setter,? McDevitt said. ‘North Farmington wasn’t serving any differently than they had, we just lost our cool and our passers couldn’t do their job, so our hitters couldn’t get us points.?
After a slow start in the fourth set, the Wildcats turned the match around and won 25-18. Oxford jumped all over N. Farmington in the deciding set, pulling away for a 15-7 win.
McDevitt gave credit to senior Maggie Rourke for stopping North Farmington’s big hitter during the final two sets.
‘She dug up all her spikes, except one, in the fourth and fifth sets.
McDevitt was happy to escape with the win.
‘Although I clearly thought we were the better team, we didn’t play like it all five sets,? she said. ‘We were leading in every single set, but gave away points in the critical stages of games two and three that cost us the sets and let this team hang around.?
‘But I am happy because our resolve allowed us to come back in strong fashion for the last two sets and put that team away,? she added. ‘We didn’t give up or get intimidated.?
Sophomore Darien Bandel lead the Wildcats with 12 kills and 17 digs, while Rourke finished the game with 30 digs.
Oxford sits at 1-0 in the OAA Red Division. Up next for the Wildcats is a home date against Bloomfield Hills Lahser on Thursday, Sept. 22. The match begins at 7 p.m.