Baldwin Outlasts Bonner Prendie in Five-Set Thriller

In a match that tested endurance, grit, and team chemistry, The Baldwin School Polar Bears edged out the visiting Bonner Prendie Pandas in a dramatic 3-2 victory on Friday evening. The Bears claimed the win with set scores of 25-21, 25-11, 19-25, 21-25, and a nail-biting 17-15 in the deciding set.

Baldwin came out strong, dominating the first two sets with aggressive serving and a balanced offensive attack. But Bonner Prendie refused to back down, rallying to take sets three and four to push the match to a decisive fifth.

In the clutch, it was Baldwin’s poise and depth that carried them through.

Senior setter Devyn Slaughter anchored the offense with 19 assists, distributing the ball effectively throughout the marathon match. Kayla Rippie was a force on both sides of the net, contributing 6 aces, 6 kills, 7 digs, and 5 blocks in a stellar all-around performance.

Kai Simpson proved to be a game-changer at the service line and on the attack, tallying 9 aces, 11 kills, 2 digs, and 2 blocks. Her power and consistency helped turn the tide in Baldwin’s favor in critical moments, especially late in the fifth set.

Defensively, Cydnei Crisden and Emerson Pelzer added a combined 7 blocks to slow down the Pandas’ offense, while Tiffany Li chipped in with 5 aces and 4 kills of her own.

The back row was anchored by Alanna Cohen (9 digs, 3 aces) and Natalya Spychalski (8 digs, 1 ace), who were both instrumental in keeping long rallies alive. Ambea Nmah added solid minutes with 2 key digs.

“We showed a lot of heart tonight,” said Head Coach Ben Guarino. “Bonner Prendie brought the pressure, and we had to dig deep. I’m proud of how every player stepped up—especially in that final set. This was a team win in every sense.”