Lady Jackets down Tuscola in first match of the season
By Travis Dockery
389 Editor
The Hive was alive Monday, Aug. 15 as Hayesville High hosted Tuscola for the first varsity volleyball match of the season. With both teams sporting a record of 0-0, it was hard to guess how the match-up would go.
Things got underway in dramatic fashion as the two teams swapped scoring volleys in the first set. With neither team able to establish a commanding lead, the back and forth affair had fans on the edge of their seats. In the race to 25, both teams found themselves with 24 points which meant there would be extra play as rules dictate at least a 2-point win. Hayesville managed to take control of the situation, scoring 2 in a row for the 26-24 set victory.
Set two was another chapter in the tale of two evenly matched teams. Although Tuscola managed to grab the momentum in the middle stages of the set, the Lady Jackets refused to concede. Hayesville mounted an attack and pulled within 2 points as the Lady Mountaineers led 24-22. Unfortunately, the rally stalled and Tuscola was able to score a point to win the set 25-22 and tie the match score up at 1-1.
Hayesville came out hot in the third set. The Lady Jackets opened with an 8-2 run, forcing Tuscola to call a timeout and try to regroup. Hayesville would stay on the throttle, building a 15-2 lead before the Lady Mountaineers would score their third point of the set. The large deficit took the wind out of Tuscola's sails and the Lady Jackets cruised to a 25-9 victory to go up 2-1 and needing just one more set win to take the match.
Momentum stayed on Hayesville's side in the fourth as the Lady Jackets again seemed dominant. Good movement on the floor and solid ball placement put the Lady Mountaineers on their heels. Hayesville never let up, winning the set 25-12 to take the 3-1 match win.
Hayesville will try to start the season with a 2-0 record when the Lady Jackets host Smoky Mountain at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Individual Stats
Mallory Peck: 9 kills, 3 aces, 5 digs, 1 block
Madison Moore: 13 kills, 3 blocks
Phoebe Pietila: 24 digs
Emma Shook: 1 kill, 20 assists, 1 ace, 14 digs