By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 11:51 AM CDT

BONNE TERRE — The North County Lady Raiders faced double the numbers of players in the Windsor Lady Owls on Tuesday, but they were undaunted as they hung tight in both games of their match before falling 25- 20, 25-21.

The two teams tied the score nine times in game one and 12 times in game two with six lead change in each game. Neither team was able to string more than five points together at any one time

North County was able to establish a mini-lead in game one at 12-10 on three rifling serves by Rilea Huff, but Kaitlin Hoffman matched it with three for the Lady Owls.

Windsor’s outside hitter Casey Pouliezos began to take control of the net, and the Lady Raiders had no answer. Poliezos had six kills in game one matching exactly the amount by North County’s team in the same game with Haley Echols hammering down four of them.

Immediately following Hoffman’s three service points, Victoria Casey served four straight points with Pouliezos at the line to put the Lady Owls ahead for good. The Lady Raiders closed the gap to two points at 22-20 on the serve of Brittany Collins, but they could come no closer as libero player Haley Pouliezos served out the last points.

The Lady Raiders basically shut down Windsor’s top hitter in game two as Pouliezos would finish with eight for the match, but Casey took over to collect four of her six in the second game.

Windsor was unable to pull away in game two to any measure as the Lady Raiders battled back each time to either tie the score or retake the lead. At 14-10, Windsor’s favor, Huff served the Lady Raiders back into a tie with her serve keeping the Lady Owls off-balance, allowing North County to have the attack on serve.

Windsor stepped out to a 20-17 edge, but Paige Gideon served the Lady Raiders to a tie with the tying point coming on an ace. A kill by Montgomery tied the game at 21-21, but Haley Pouliezos again served out the game for the win.

North County had 14 kills in the match with Echols leading the team with six. Huff led in service points with seven, and also made eight assists. Montgomery made five digs and Collins and Huff had four digs each.

North County will seek their first win at Union on Thursday.