CARY – Pushed by strong runs to close the second and third games, the Green Hope volleyball team defeated Cary 3-0 on the road Thursday night, in an otherwise back-and-forth match that was much closer than the final score indicated. The match featured 17 ties and eight lead changes, but it was a run from the Lady Falcons midway through the second game that really turned the tide and spurred Green Hope to victory. With GHHS up 1-0 after one game, the score was tied 8-8 in the second contest when the Lady Falcons went on a 12-2 run to make it 20-10 before eventually taking it 25-15. It was more of the same in the third game. The Lady Falcons and Lady Imps traded punches, as the lead changed four times and was tied five times before Green Hope went on an 8-1 to take control, and ultimately, a 25-18 win that sealed the match for GHHS. “We’ve actually been working hard on controlling how we play. We took control, made fewer mistakes and that’s how we were able to go on runs,” said Green Hope coach Heather Bailey. “It’s kind of been a theme for us,” she added. “We’ve worked on serving aggressively. I think we were able to throw them off a little, so that little extra helped us out a lot.” In the first game, Cary got off to a fast start, leading the whole way until their 12-9 advantage was erased by a 6-1 spurt by the Lady Falcons. From that point on, it was back-and-forth, as Green Hope scored the final three points to take the first game 25-23. “I think we’ve worked on our intensity in the tougher matches, and it pulls us together even when it’s close,” said GHHS senior Lindsey O’Connell. “A lot of the games we’ve lost have been because of a lack of intensity. Tonight, we were really focused and really intense.” The Lady Imps were challenged by a height disadvantage, said Cary coach Phil Goodloe, and a Lady Falcon team that played fundamentally sound. “Green Hope earned their points tonight. They passed, set and spiked,” Goodloe said. “They got us off our game … We were with them in the second and third games (but) they started earning points and got us on our heels.” That said, Goodlowe said Cary has improved its setting and defense, in addition to having a more fluid offense. “We had more of a flow to our attacks,” he added