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Cobras quick to seal victory against Gators

LAND O'LAKES -- Hudson's big hang-up in the first half of the season was a difficulty finishing opponents off. There were no such game-point anxieties Tuesday night.

The Cobras closed out both games with back-to-back points, beating Land O'Lakes 16-4, 15-5 for their sixth win in a row.

"We need to pick up the pace a little bit, and usually this time of year, we do," said Cobras coach Linda McQuade, whose team has bounced back after losing to River Ridge and Mitchell last week. "This team is still a work in progress."

When Hudson's players got tired during practice Monday, McQuade put late-game scenarios on the scoreboard and had them rehearse at closing out games. That seemed to do the trick Tuesday, as Jenna Strawser sealed the opening game with two service winners. The Cobras clinched the second game on two kills by Tarah Marinelli, who finished with a match-high 13.

"We've got momentum now and we're all working together," said Marinelli, whose two aces were offset by four of the team's nine service errors. "We're playing more as a team now and we're feeling more confident."

Hudson (11-3, 4-3 in Class 4A, District 8), which won five matches in its own tournament this weekend, had 28 kills to Land O'Lakes' 15, getting nine from Jessica Borrello and five from Lauren Bislick. The Gators (5-9, 1-8) spread their offense around, getting five kills from Melissa White, four from April Slate and three from Alison Foster.

Land O'Lakes had a game point in the opening game at 14-13 but Foster and Slate watched a ball drop between them. Hudson scored the next three points to win the first game, then stormed out to an 11-2 lead in an easy second game.

"They did the same thing the last time we played them," Gators coach Stephanie Voorhees said. "We actually won a game from them that time, but this was just errors on our part, letting balls drop.

"We've been working on it."

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