MIA Drops Three Tight Games to FBA

Marco Island Academy’s young and improving volleyball team swept The Village School of Naples at home on Wednesday, September 20, then were swept themselves in a measuring stick match at First Baptist Academy (FBA) the following night.

While the Rays’ 25-5, 25-11, 25-11 win over TVSN was expected, the Rays had hopes of upending county power FBA, falling 26-24, 25-20, 25-23.

"We compete very well with FBA,” said Alyssa Stolinas, MIA head coach. "I think they are tested a lot more during the season than we are. They have that experience. It's not that we lack the talent. They have a strong schedule. Every game they play is a fight for them. They're just battle tested a lot more than we are. And I think ultimately at the end of the day, that's what it came down to. They're a great team, great program. They have a lot of talent. We battled pretty hard with them. It was a close game. And the girls had fun. They enjoyed it. Even though we did lose they're like ‘That game was awesome!' And that's what you play for. You play for that thrill. The girls enjoyed every minute of it.”

The Rays held a 24-22 lead in the first game, but FBA reeled off four straight points to take the game. Stolinas gives FBA credit.

"FBA fought back,” Stolinas said. “We didn't roll over. You know, every point that we won, we had to earn. We made mistakes, but we're all human. We will make mistakes. But they didn't give us the game.”

The second and third games were tight, and the Rays almost turned the tables on the Lions in the third game, battling back from a 24-19 deficit before falling.

"When we're in a tight match we have to clean up our game,” Stolinas said. "And I truly believe that we're just not tested enough to be able to not crack under pressure. They weren't scared, but they felt it. I know at the end of the day we didn't win, but the girls and myself, we always want to win. That's the goal. But seeing it being a close game and watching my girls battle instead of falling apart, that was a win for me."

MIA hosted Donahue Catholic on Tuesday, September 26, and Everglades City the following day, after the Coastal Breeze News deadline. On Thursday, September 28, the Class 2A Rays (13-4) travel to Class 6A Palmetto Ridge (5-5).  Playing up four classes promises to be another measuring stick game for the Rays.

“It should be a good game,” Stolinas said. "They're a good team. We're looking forward to it. And then the following week we play Community School and then we play Palmetto Ridge at home. We play Southwest Florida Christian that following Thursday. That is a very big game for us."