Brussels' Kaylee Sink tries to spike against the Dragons during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The Dragons defeated Brussels 26-24, 18-25, 11-25, 25-20, 15-11. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels' Kaylee Sink tries to spike against the Dragons during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The Dragons defeated Brussels 26-24, 18-25, 11-25, 25-20, 15-11. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury’s Anna Downing goes for a dig against Brussels during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The Dragons defeated Brussels 26-24, 18-25, 11-25, 25-20, 15-11. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels' Evin Harper tries to block against Alconbury’s Natalie Hayosh during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The Dragons defeated Brussels 26-24, 18-25, 11-25, 25-20, 15-11. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Alconbury’s Laela Evans serves against Brussels during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Evans led her team to victory with one ace, seven kills, eight digs and five assists. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH player Milahni Wilkerson blocks against Jewels Friedhoff during a varsity volleyball game versus Brussels at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Friedhoff helped her team beat the Lions by contributing six kills and two blocks. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels' Evin Harper leaps for a volleyball spike during a varsity game against AFNORTH at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Brussels beat the Lions but then lost a close game to the Dragons. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels' Juliette Mobley serves against AFNORTH during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. Mobley had 21 assists in the Brussels victory. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
Brussels player Jewels Friedhoff looks to block a spike by AFNORTH’s Josie Bosch during a varsity volleyball game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. She had six kills and two blocks in the Brussels victory. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH's Milahni Wilkerson tips the volleyball over the net during a set versus the Dragons at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. She contributed nine kills and eight blocks in the AFNORTH win against Alconbury. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
AFNORTH volleyball player Abia Gage spikes against Alconbury’s Kira Thorne and Anna Downing during a high school game at RAF Alconbury, England, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. The Lions defeated Alconbury, but lost their next game against Brussels. (William Howard/Stars and Stripes)
RAF ALCONBURY, England — The Brussels, AFNORTH and Alconbury volleyball teams all walked away as winners during the Alconbury homecoming Saturday. They also all left as losers.
AFNORTH made the first game of the day look almost too easy with a 25-10, 25-23, 12-25, 25-19 victory against the Dragons.
Junior setter Amara Koehler had seven aces in the win, while sophomore teammate Milahni Wilkerson contributed nine kills and eight blocks.
The Lions showcased their confidence after the win while warming up for their next against Brussels as the girls lip-synced and danced to R&B music in between hitting volleyballs over the net.
But fatigue from back-to-back games began to set in and Brussels stole a bit of their thunder with a 24-20, 25-22, 25-19 win.
Danielle Lynch had seven kills and four aces, Jewels Friedhoff had six kills and two blocks, Caitlin McCollom had six kills and four digs and Juliette Mobley helped with 21 assists in the AFNORTH defeat.
As the Lions hit the showers before their eight-hour bus ride back home, the Dragons looked to defend their home court against Brussels.
The longest matchup of the day saw both teams rallying back and forth through five sets of triumphs and upsets that inspired deafening cries of anger and joy from the crowded bleachers.
Alconbury senior Laela Evans earned a proper sendoff in the nail-biting 26-24, 18-25, 11-25, 25-20, 15-11 victory over Brussels with one ace, seven kills, eight digs and five assists.
Teammates Cami Boyett ― two aces, seven kills, seven assists, three digs ― and Kristin Donley ― one ace and 10 digs ― also led the victorious Dragons.
Twitter: @Howard_Stripes
