Lady Eagles get strong start in ‘Battle’ victory
Coosa goes 4-0 in the season-opening tournament.
The Coosa volleyball team goes 4-0 in the seasonopening tournament.
Coosa volleyball spent its 2016 season beating opponents and winning an area title in the school’s small and tight auxiliary gym. The scenery was a little different on Saturday, but the Lady Eagles’ dominance was all the same.
Coach Nic Hann’s squad didn’t drop a single set all day long, winning four straight matches to capture the “Battle of the Counties” title at the school’s new and expansive gymnasium. Coosa beat Rome 25-17, 25-15, 2518 in a best-of-five final round to win the seasonopening tournament.
It was a welcome start for Hann and his staff, though he knows there’s plenty of season left.
“Just a very good first day and how we want to begin this season,” Hann said. “Of course it’s the first day, so you’re going to see some ugly volleyball. But overall, the girls came together as one and do what was needed to pull each set out.”
The final match looked almost identical from the first three Coosa wins, with the team relying on efficient passing and big hitters up front.
Senior Taylor Roberts finished with 41 kills for the day, including 16 in the final match. Brinley Smith had 68 assists, 25 coming against Rome. The Lady Eagles started the day with a two-set sweep of Cedartown, and then did the same to Darlington and Armuchee. While each of those opponents hung around for a few points, they just didn’t have the stamina to challenge Coosa to 25.
Coosa’s only real struggle in the final came in the last set as Rome hung on to lead 17-15 at one point. But the experience the Lady Eagles have gained through the years paid off as they went on a 10-1 run to finish the match.
“The girls do a good job, and I want to mention Brinley especially, of getting to the ball in the crucial moments,” Hann said. “Whether it is knowing a hitter is open or what spot to go on the floor, just that communication comes from these girls playing so much together.”
The finals might’ve been a result of fatigue as well, with Rome needing to win four straight matches in the loser’s bracket to get there. The Lady Wolves dropped their opening match to Model, but then beat Rockmart, Darlington, Pepperell and Armuchee.
Rome coach Alecia Parker admitted her team started off slow for the tournament, but as things continued, her players communicated more and more. She believes as long as the team works on its spacing, they can improve once region play comes around.
“The things to take away today are positivity and coverage,” Parker said. “We should not be moving while we are passing, we should already be set. The further we go in the season, the more we are going to understand that.”