Don’t look now, but the Southside Mavericks are beginning to click.

Junior Hannah Holland had 15 kills Thursday to power the Mavericks to a brisk 25-15, 25-11, 25-14 win over the Bryant Lady Hornets.

The Mavericks (19-9, 7-4) host Greenwood on Monday before resuming 7A-Central play Tuesday at Mount St. Mary.

“We’ve been playing really consistently,” Southside coach Steve Haaser said. “We played good in the tournament Saturday, and been playing good lately. We played good tonight.”

Southside fell behind 10-5 in the third set before Emily Bass and Co. helped right the ship. Sarah Tolbert’s no-look over-the-shoulder tip brought Southside 10-8, and Bass tied the game with one of her four kills.

“We had a little spell where we fell behind 10-5 in the third game,” Haaser said. “Emily Bass followed with seven or eight aces. Our serving definitely saved us that third game.”

Sage Rankin put the Mavericks ahead for good (11-10) with one of her nine kills.

The Mavericks’ back row defense has been stellar of late, Haaser said.

“Micah Beth Brasher on the back row has really given us a lift,” he said. “She’s made our defense stronger, and we’re playing a lot better. Hopefully we can continue.”

Senior libero Haley Hogue added 20 digs and three aces. Also for the Mavericks, Emily Carman had four kills and Bass added six aces.

Tolbert finished with a team-high 30 assists for the Mavericks.

“We made a few adjustments in our lineup,” Haaser said. “We went to a 5-1 offense, with Sarah Tolbert setting all the way around. She’s really come on and doing a great job. Hannah Holland is playing a lot better.”

Bryant led 7-6 in the first set for the Mavericks flipped the momentum. Hogue’s ace snapped a 7-7 tie, and Holland added two kills for a 16-11 lead.

Carman’s kill and Brasher’s ace extended the lead to 18-12.

The Mavericks were dominate in the second set. Two kills by Rankin and a pair of aces by Bass helped the team build a 19-4 lead.

The lead eventually swelled to 21-6.
