417th FLTS plunders 31st TES, 2-0

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In a game that saw 10 lead changes and was constantly tied, the 417th Flight Test Squadron found a way to beat the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron when the game was on the line.

"Both teams played well," said Matt Keller, 417th FLTS team member. "We just got a couple of good brakes and more balls landed on their side of the floor than ours."

The 31st TES came out swinging, jumping to an early 5-1 lead. The 417th FLTS quickly responded putting the game in a 6-6 tie. The teams then battled back and forth including three more ties. But with the game tied at 10, the 417th FLTS went on a nine-point scoring tear to take a commanding 19-10 lead. The 31st TES did what they could to battle back as their opponents clung to their lead, but the 417th FLTS proved to be too much, winning 25-17.

"We have good setters and hitters, but our passing wasn't great this time," said Paul Lockwood, team member. "We killed ourselves on serves this game though, which prevented us from taking any big leads."

Mirroring the first game, 31st TES jumped ahead, this time by four points.The 417th FLTS fired back though, bringing the game to a 4-4 tie, the first of six ties that occurred in the game before either teams score reached 10. After battling back and forth and tying at six, seven, eight and nine, 417th FLTS took their first lead, going ahead 14-11.

The 31st TES quickly responded with a scoring run of their own, making the score 16-14. That seemed to be all the team could muster as the 417th seemingly scored at will behind Keller, the team's top scorer going on an 11-2 run and finishing off the 31th TES in the process, 25-18.

"We had a good time. Win or lose, competition should always be fun as long as you play your best," Lockwood said. "Of course I'm disappointed we lost."