By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

All was well for the Harmony volleyball team Tuesday when it turned back previously unbeaten St. Cloud, 25-18, 25-21, 21-6, to take control of the Orange Belt Conference race with a 4-0 record.

But, Wednesday, things didn’t go so well for the Lady Longhorns, who lost for the first time this season (6-1) to 2011 state champion Holy Trinity Academy, 19-25, 12-25, 18-25.

Worse, the team may have lost libero Alexis Trowbridge, who left in the first game with a leg injury.

Coach Eric Trowbridge, Alexis’ father, said the injury, a possible leg fracture, was serious. She was scheduled for X-rays Thursday.

Harmony was unable to matchup with Holy Trinity’s formidable wall of hitters Wednesday. Chaney Howard led the Lady Longhorns with nine kills and four aces.

St. Cloud, 6-1, which lost for the first time at Harmony, completed its conference schedule with a 5-1 record. Harmony can clinch its third straight OBC crown by winning at OHS Wednesday at 7 p.m. and against Gateway Oct. 11.

Harmony rolled off the final seven points in the first game Tuesday against St. Cloud, but the Bulldogs, behind Audrey Wentzell, Faith Udstad and Baylee Sullivan, led 21-20 in the second game before Harmony’s Allison VanTassel, Howard and Kendall Pollock put down big hits off sets from Genesis Viera. Alexis Trowbridge, Adalyn Gaston and Pollock all made key serves as Harmony scored the last five points to win the game.

After tying the score at 4 in the third game, St. Cloud was unable to stem Harmony’s momentum as Pollock served the last 15 points.

“I had done 13 in a row last year, but I think 15 is the most I’ve had in a row,” Pollock, a senior said.

Coach Trowbridge said his team was prepared for the challenge.

“St. Cloud is having a good season and they are a very good team, but we fully expect to win in three games every time we play a match,” Trowbridge said. “Our girls are mentally challenged every practice to be prepared for these situations. If you ask any of our players, they will tell you that they are not satisfied  with the way we played.”

Harmony, which played at the Class 7A state tournament last year, lost three starters. But, that is not an excuse for this team to lower its goals, Pollock said.

“It’s the same as last year,” she said. “When we’re out there, we’re thinking that we always need to make one pass. We have to play defense, we have to maintain our intensity, and hopefully we’ll have the same kind of success we had last year.”

St. Cloud Coach Ettie Singleton took the defeat in stride.

“They played better than us. Defensively, we were off. We’ve played better matches, but it goes back to them, they played really well,” she said. “We need to grow. It’s OK. We’re going to see them again in a couple of weeks, and in the district (7A-6 tournament). The big one is at the district.”

St. Cloud will host a seven-team tournament today beginning at 8 a.m.

The Lady Kowboys slipped to 5-3 and 3-1 in District 7A-5 after a 16-25, 21-25, 25-11, 20-25 loss against Lake Minneola, the defending district champion, Tuesday.

“Lake Minneola is a solid team that is much bigger than us and have been playing together for a while now,” Coach Carrie Palmi said.

Palmi said with a roster that includes three freshmen and a sophomore, the Lady Kowboys still are learning how to play together.

“We have a ton of talent and tons of potential,” she said.

Osceola carries a 3-1 conference record into Wednesday’s match against Harmony. Osceola, which lost two weeks ago against St. Cloud, can make a bid for the conference title by beating Harmony and, later in the season, Celebration.

St. Cloud travels to OHS Monday at 7 p.m.

Southland Christian beat Sonrise Christian, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 Monday as Gaby Hermosa had four aces and nine kills, Ashley Brown had four aces and Delaney Sjostrom had 10 assists.

The Flames, 9-9, lost to Eastland 23-25, 25-20, 20-25 and 22-25 Thursday as Sheena Fletcher had nine kills and Sjostrom had four aces and 10 assists.

Heritage Christian is 2-11 after defeating Altamonte Christian in four games Wednesday. Brooke Beaver had eight kills and Jasmine Pastrana had five aces.