Twice during Thursday’s match, Selma rallied from big deficits against Stanhope Elmore. Both times the home crowd got into it, the Saints bench got loud and the momentum in the match seemed to change.

Both times the momentum swung quickly back to Stanhope. Using quality passes and great play at the net, Stanhope withstood both Selma runs and swept the Saints 25-16, 25-10, 25-16 in a match that at times was closer than the final score indicated.

“We have to learn that even when we’re down the game is not over until someone gets to 25, so we have to keep playing,” said Selma coach Katasha Turner. “We have to keep motivating ourselves and when we are down a couple of points we still have to keep moving, still have to keep pushing.”

Stanhope led the first set 13-10, but Selma’s Karijia Steele hit an ace and the Saints tied it up. The Mustangs won the next nine points in the first set to take a 22-13 lead and held on from there.

In the second game, Stanhope rolled to an easy win.

The final game was much closer, with Selma overcoming an early 13-8 deficit. The Saints got within one after a block at the net by Steele and an ace by Brittany Johnson. Stanhope won the next four points and 11 of the final 13 to put the match away.

“It’s going to turn around. I believe in them, and they have to believe in each other,” Turner said.

Selma will play at Robert E. Lee High School on Monday.