Knights lose heartbreaker in regionals (PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO)

NICEVILLE — Emily Kohler is closer to the Munroe Day volleyball team than anybody, but even she didn’t know how the Bobcats would react during the fifth set against Rocky Bayou Christian in the Class A regional quarterfinals.

Munroe Day’s coach got the answer she wanted as the visiting Bobcats completed a stunning comeback over the heartbroken Knights 25-23, 14-25, 18-25, 26-24, 16-14 on Tuesday.

“We haven’t been in that situation,” Kohler said. “I think that’s the first game we’ve even gone to five sets. So, it was nice to see them fight and want it at the end like that when it was crunch-time.”

Indeed, Munroe Day (19-7) played like a veteran team by showing plenty of poise and resiliency when it appeared Rocky Bayou (14-10) had the victory in hand. The Bobcats faced a 10-16 deficit in the fourth set and were down 8-11 in the fifth set before rallying each time.

PHOTOS: Click to view a photo gallery of the match.

They heeded the words of Kohler, who delivered a message when they faced the steep climb in the fourth game.

“I told them that this is the end of your season and if you don’t go out there and win, you better show some heart,” Kohler said. “You’ve got to want it more than they do. Thank God they went out there and did that.”

Munroe Day advances to play John Paul II in the regional semifinals on Tuesday.

For Rocky Bayou, it was a devastating loss. The Knights dominated the second set, controlled the third set and had command of both the fourth and fifth sets before letting the match slip away.

Rocky Bayou coach Lisa Eaves said her squad had too many self-inflicted wounds down the stretch and that Munroe Day played sound volleyball, which allowed the Bobcats to overcome the Knights’ superior offensive attack. Rocky Bayou collected 32 kills and Munroe Day had 24.

“It was everybody making bad decisions (for us),” Eaves said. “ … They didn’t have a powerhouse offense, but they ran it consistently and that was the difference.”

Kathryn Rogers, who tied Rachel Mosley with a match-high nine kills, gave the Knights an 11-8 lead in the fifth set with a spike. Shortly thereafter, Rocky Bayou hit into the net and had an illegal hit, which tied it up.

Georgie Brannaman followed with a kill and Munroe Day never trailed again. The teams faced two more ties, but the Bobcats broke free from the Knights at 14-all when Rocky Bayou was long on a hit and the Knights were unable to return a deep volley, clinching the match.

Katie Kaim had 23 assists for Rocky Bayou, Monica Johnson added eight kills, and Hannah Peters chipped in five kills and four aces.

Courtney Mayo led Munroe Day with seven kills and Spenser Morris added five.