The Hobbton Middle Lady Wildcat volleyball team improved to 8-1 after a five-set victory over the Union Spartans on Monday.

“That was the most intense match I’ve ever been a part of,” said Hobbton coach Chip Pollock. “Union refused to give up—and were almost more than we could handle.”

The Wildcats started out strong, taking the first set 25-17 behind the 11 service points of Madison Warren. “Madison’s serving was huge because Union had one girl run off 10 straight on us.”

Union took a 2-1 lead after dominating the second and third sets 25-13 and 25-8. “Union outplayed us in every facet of the game for two sets,” Pollock said. “We couldn’t buy a serve—and they were flawless.”

As Hobbton took the court for the fourth set, captain Makenzie Williams informed her team that “we WILL NOT lose this!” The statement proved accurate as the Wildcats avoided defeat by taking the set 27-25.

In the decisive fifth set, Hobbton closed out the Spartans 15-7 behind Alona Rhodes’ 6 service points.

Leading the Wildcats were Williams, Warren, Rhodes, Caitlyn Stegal, Maddy Roesch, Nina Devone (14 Kills), and Katlyn Ballance.

The 8-1 Wildcats face Midway Tuesday at HMS.