Minford shot out of the gate with a quick first set win of 25-5. The next sets were very competitive as Minford took two of the final three, 25-17, 20-25 and 25-16.
"In the first game we really came out strong. The second game we didn't have as much intensity," Minford coach Todd Cron said. "We made some adjustments in the final game... and put the win away."
The opening set was dominated by the Minford's servers. Jordan Henson had four aces on her way to nine points while Mackenzie Williams and Ashley Oesch had two aces each with six and five points, respectively.
"We didn't have many serve errors which has been our achilles heel at times," Cron said. "Jordan Henson hit the ball very well for us."
Oesch collected 16 total points while Henson and Williams tallied 10 points in the match.
Portsmouth bounced back in the second set as the teams traded the lead back and forth. The Lady Trojans forced a Minford timeout when an ace put Portsmouth ahead 8-6.
However, the Lady Trojans could not hold serve. Of their 17 points, 12 came from Minford sideouts and the Lady Falcons went on to take a two set lead.
Again Portsmouth started strong. They opened the third set opened with a 10-5 lead behind the serving of senior Sarah Kendall and Hannah Foster.
Foster helped the Lady Trojans sustain the momentum throughout the set with two kills for the 18th and 20th points, set up by senior Ruthie Stanley. Then Foster set up Stanley for a kill and the 22nd point.
Portsmouth finished the third set with a Katherine Meriwether ace but Minford still led in the match, two sets to one.
“I think Minford is a well-coached team and are also very athletic," Portsmouth coach Dan Stanley said. "Our girls always play hard and that's a tribute to (assistant coach) Sarah Barney and it’s something we are trying to build on."
The final set belonged to the Lady Falcons who jumped ahead 13-4 thanks to the net play of Abby Donahoe (eight kills for the match), assisted by setter Courtney Spriggs.
Portsmouth did not go quietly however. As Minford was one point away from the sectional title with the fourth set score was 24-9, Portsmouth sophomore Kasey Simpson reeled off seven straight points to close the gap, 24-16.
"Kasey is like the energerizer bunny, she just keeps going. Her motor never stops," Stanley said.
The Lady Falcons won the next point and the match to advance to the district tournament.
On Wednesday Minford will take on the SOC II champion Valley Indians at 6 p.m. at Athens High School.
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