ORANGE PARK – With three strong services from Joi Monsanto, the Lakeside Junior High Lady Gators volleyball team withstood a second game setback to Green Cove Springs Junior High to win the decisive third game 15-11 to take the Northeast Florida Athletic Conference championship game Monday night at Orange Park Junior High.

The Lady Gators, who have amassed a collection of trophies over the last decade under coach Beth Afflege with a lone non-title season in 2015, came back from behind throughout the three games as the Lady Cougars, led by front hitter Madelyn Grandstaff and strong serves from Maddison Ayers, continually returned the strong hits at the net from Lakeside’s Jaymie Cox.

In game one, Green Cove shot off to a 6-3 early lead and had a 22-21 lead before Lakeside fought back to win 25-19.

In game two, the Lady Cougars again shot off to an 8-3 lead before Lakeside regrouped to tie at 18-18. From there, Green Cove inched to a 22-21 lead behind Grandstaff. Ayers finished off the Lakeside comeback with two services that were unreturnable as both teams settled for the overtime decider.

Green Cove bolted to an early 5-1 lead in the packed Orange Park Junior High gym as fans sensed an upset of epic proportions in front of them, but Lakeside calmly clicked off successful scoring hits to go ahead 10-8 with Kendall Shimasaki serving.

Green Cove Springs got a referee call on a ball hit near the out of bound mark and pushed to an 11-11 tie as the frenzied gym was near set to explode.

Shimasaki netted her next serve to put Lakeside up 12-11 before Monsanto backed up to the service line and delivered the gamewinners; the first an ace and the final two unreturnable.

On the season, Lakeside was unbeaten in regular season play after, ironically, losing a preseason game to Green Cove Springs as the season started.