Baker downed by Sneads in region quarters (VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY)

BAKER — Wednesday was a tough night for the Baker volleyball team in the Class 2A region quarterfinals.

The District 1-2A champion Gators fought hard, but they couldn’t hold off 2-2A runner up Sneads as the Pirates won in four sets 21-25, 25-8, 25-22, 25-23.

Even winning the first set was an uphill climb for Baker.

The Gators (16-3) only led six points in the set. Despite playing catch-up throughout, Baker rallied behind the serving of Kaylee Bradley to score five unanswered points down the stretch to take the set.

Set two was all Pirates. With Ashley Smith in serve, Sneads jumped to a 5-0 lead. Meagan Smith, Kara Alford and Jordan Jackson then built a wall at the net to power the Pirates (25-5) the rest of the way to the win.

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

Gator coach Lisa Roy refused to use the obvious size advantage of Sneads as an excuse for the way her team played.

“They had some good hitters,” she said, “but it was just mental mistakes. We just had entirely too many errors. You can’t have that many errors in a game like this and expect to come out on top.”

Baker senior hitter Allysa Horn was playing on a badly twisted ankle that she hurt Tuesday. Even with the bad ankle, Horn was able to deliver eight kills and two blocks.

Many of those kills came in sets three and four as the Gators were fighting for their playoff life. Every time Baker got close in the third set, the Pirates responded with a small spurt to pull back in front by three or four points. The scene would be repeated throughout the final two sets.

Late in the fourth set, it looked as if the Gators might be able to force a fifth tiebreaker set.

Baker took a 22-21 lead with Jennifer Ellis in serve, but an unforced error by the Gators pulled Sneads even at 22-22.

The Pirates went on to score three of the last four points in the set to claim the match.

“I hate that we made that many errors and lost tonight,” Roy said. “We have five seniors that are going to be very disappointed. But I’m proud of them. They’ve had a great season and we’ll look forward to next year.”

Baker hitters: Lauren Griffith 1 ace, 13 assists, 2 blocks, 2 digs; Carly Barton 1 ace, 6 digs; Mollie Royal 1 ace, 1 dig, 4 kills; Jennifer Ellis 3 aces, 5 digs, 7 kills; Allysa Horn 1 assist, 2 blocks, 8 kills; Kaitlin Hunter 2 assists, 9 digs; Caitlin Holley 1 kill; Kaylee Bradley 3 aces, 2 blocks, 1 dig, 9 kills; Chelby Caraway 1 dig.