After taking a two-set lead, it looked like Hilton Head High’s return to the state title match was a mere formality. But the Aiken Hornets stormed back on their home court Tuesday to stun the defending SCHSL Class 4A champs in five sets (17-25, 17-25, 25-18, 26-24, 15-7) and end the Seahawks’ back-to-back championship hopes.
The visitors took the upper hand early in the Lower State final, building a 19-13 lead in the opening set. Hilton Head’s dominance from the service line made it difficult for Aiken to set up its offense and propelled the Seahawks to a 25-17 first-set victory. The defending champs kept rolling into the second set, scoring six unanswered points en route to another 25-17 decision to put the Seahawks on the precipice of a trip to Columbia.
But Aiken made some adjustments and kept battling. Sparked by a stellar junior duo of Natalie Bland and Brianna Mahoney, the Hornets surged to a 25-18 third set in front of an electric home crowd. With the fourth set deadlocked at 23 points, Hilton Head High eyed an opportunity to seize the match, but a Bland serve grazed across the net to put Aiken on top, and the Hornets held on 26-24 to send it to a decisive fifth set.
The home team’s momentum was too much for the Seahawks to stop in a quick fifth frame, as Aiken rode the crowd’s energy to complete the improbable comeback win.
Hilton Head High finishes the season with a record of 31-8-2 and a perfect 12-0 mark in Region 7-4A play.
By Wes Kerr
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