District 2-5A: Mosley plays best match, but Leon wins

SPRINGFIELD - It was a testament to how truly good Leon's volleyball team was on Tuesday, when Mosley played possibly its best match of the season and still came up short.

The Lions held off a Dolphins' rally in Game 3 and weathered several lead changes to win the District 2-5A tournament semifinal 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 at the Ernest Spiva Ram House. Leon (24-2), which hasn't lost a match since late September, advanced to Thursday's title affair against the winner of Chiles-Lincoln to be played on its home court. Mosley finished its season 20-6, with every loss coming to district foes, including three to Leon.

"We gave it our best effort," Mosley coach Steve Canfield said. "I told them that I wanted them to put it all out on the court and they did. I couldn't be more proud."

Mosley had 26 kills, a season-high against Leon. But the Lions withstood each rally and point with the experience of a champion. That said a lot, given they only have four seniors on the varsity roster.

"When you get to this point the question is ‘are you going to step up?" Leon coach Joy Becker said. "If you aren't hitting it at 100 percent, now then there's something wrong."

Becker knew the importance of not looking past Mosley. Leon was the state runner-up in 2007 and had its sights set on one more important win in 2008, but a loss on Tuesday would have wiped all the dreams away.

Mosley held leads of 9-8 in the first game and 7-6 in Game 2, but Leon pulled away in each behind the power game of Alex Johnson, who led all players with 18 kills. Mosley tied the opening game 13-13 on a kill by Megan Williams, who had four kills and nine digs, but five straight points on Johnson's time at the service line changed the complexion.

A close Game 2 became less so on five straight points by Caldwell Nystrom, and Mosley couldn't hold serve long enough to make a dent in the score.

Game 3 produced Mosley's best chance to extend the match, with the Dolphins turning around a two-point deficit, 11-9, when Kelsey Bell left the match with an ankle injury. Mosley took a 13-12 lead on one of Deanna Canfield's nine kills, but the lead grew only to three.

Leon came back from four more Mosley leads, tying the game 23-23 on a dink by Johnson. Sarah Hyde and Johnson finished off the match with blocks on the final two points.

Lexi Weldon had 13 kills, Taylor Vaughn seven kills, Bridget Swingle four blocks and Molly Pearce 34 assists and five blocks for the Lions, who lost only one game in three matches against Mosley.

Ann Delaney had 24 assists and Bell six kills before leaving for the Dolphins, who had four freshmen on the floor at the end of the match, giving Canfield reason to be optimistic.

"We had a great season," Canfield said. "It's just that Leon is a really good team."