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LASKER – Despite a strong effort, Northeast Academy’s volleyball team came up short in a non-conference home match against Community Christian School.

The Eagles fell 25-16, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22.

Trailing by two sets, the Eagles came out strong in the third set, taking an early lead and never looking back.

With the match deadlocked at three-all, Alicia Watts rallied the Eagles into the lead for good. The Northeast Academy sophomore served four straight points, including a pair of aces, as the Eagles surged ahead 7-3.

The teams went back and forth with Hayes Hatcher delivering a key winning shot for the Eagles and then a kill on Chloe Long’s serve.

It was again Watts whose serve helped the Eagles pull ahead for good. She won three straight points, with Kennedy Hatcher delivering a kill and a winner to push the Northeast lead to 18-14.

Three service points from Angel Barnes helped the Eagles go ahead 22-15 before a kill from Lindsay White and a service winner from Addison Newsome helped NEA win the set 25-19.

The fourth set again saw the teams locked in a close battle. Kennedy Hatcher helped the Eagles take an early lead with four straight service points, two of which came on aces. The result was a 5-2 NEA lead.

Community Christian rallied to take an 8-7 lead, but White delivered a kill and Barnes had consecutive service winners – one by ace – as the Eagles went back in front 10-8.

Later in the set, Kennedy Hatcher again had three service points to take the Eagles from a one-point deficit to a 16-15 lead.

Hayes Hatcher then delivered a kill and turned the serve over to Long, who rolled off four straight points, including an ace, to lead 21-16.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Community Christian rallied and edged out the home team 25-22.

The first set wasn’t the best for NEA as the Cyclones jumped out to an early 10-1 lead and never looked back, securing a 25-16 win.

The second set was more competitive with Northeast taking an early lead and Community rallying to close the gap late in the set.

Long had an early serving streak, rolling off five points, including two aces and a kill by Hayes Hatcher as Northeast led 8-3.

Kennedy Hatcher helped the Eagles push that lead to 16-12 with three straight points on her serve, but again it was the Cyclones who rallied. Community scored the final six points to edge out NEA 25-22.

Northeast will be back in action Monday when they travel to Christ Covenant in Winterville. They return home on Thursday, Sept. 28 when they host Tarheel Independent Conference rival Pungo Christian Academy.