Brooks outlast Kennedy to reach first Public League final

In a battle of upstarts between Brooks and Kennedy, it was the Eagles that continued its historic run with a 25-21, 20-25, 25-17 victory over Kennedy in Wednesday’s second Public League semifinal at Hyde Park.

Brooks had previously never advanced as far as the Public League semifinal.

The first two sets saw both teams go back-and-forth, with neither team getting more than a five-point lead. After Brooks tied the first set at 21 with a kill from Dominique Mason, the Eagles went on a 4-0 spurt to close out the first-set win. Brooks got two aces from Regine Harris in the decisive run.

Much like the first set, the second started with Brooks getting out to a fast lead, with Kennedy making a giant comeback to take the lead. The Crusaders clawed back from a 9-3 deficit, going on an 11-2 run thanks to eight Brooks errors, including three blocks. Kennedy would force Brooks into 11 hitting errors in the second-set win.

Whatever Brooks coach Amber Payden said to her team in the huddle between the second and third sets it worked, as the Eagles went on an 11-3 run in the middle of the set to put the match out of hand.

“Coach just told us to relax,’’ Harris said. “We were playing uptight and making errors and she said to just play our game.’’

Myah Reed had 10 kills for Brooks (16-11), while Melissa Mazur had eight kills for Kennedy (19-10).

The Eagles move on to play Young for the city title Friday at Hyde Park. Brooks defeated the Dolphins in three sets earlier this season.