Battling all the way
Darlington, Coosa close out home schedules with wins
Posting a victory is one way to make a special night even more memorable.
On Tuesday night, the seniors at both Coosa and Darlington did just that, as they ended their Senior Nights with wins.
At Darlington, after getting swept by Walker, the Lady Tigers rebounded to sweep Christian Heritage to end senior night, while Coosa swept cross-town rival Armuchee.
“They were very excited and we actually only played the seniors tonight,” said Coosa coach Kate Williamson.
“But that wasn’t because it was senior night, it was because those are the girls that stepped up this week.
“They have been feeling like there has been to much pressure, so we came into this week saying that there was no pressure,” added Williamson.
“They just had fun, played excited, and they just played great.”
The Lady Eagles have nine seniors that make up their 12 girls volleyball squad — Taylor Flennery, Emily Weeks, Cameron Hubbard, Josie Ayers, Aalexis Collins, Patience Smith, Maddie Lance, Reece Rudolph, and Melida Hernandez — and each of them did their part to make senior night a memorable night.
Weeks had seven assists, two kills, six digs and six aces, and Ayers had eight kills, four digs and two aces. Lance finished with five kills, eight digs and an ace, and Hernandez had four digs and five crucial aces.
“This is great,” said Ayers. “We’ve been working hard all season and it’s paying off. I’m hoping everybody continue to work hard and keeps giving their best.”
Coosa took the first set from Armuchee, who is without former RN- T All- Area member Lauren Richardson whose season has come to an end due to ankle injury, 25-13, but the second set was entirely different story.
After a close back-and-fourth affair through most of the game, the Lady Indians found themselves up 24-21, and needing only one point to force a third set.
Hernandez went to the serve line for the Lady Eagles and thanks to her fine serving Coosa scored the next five points to win the set, 26-24, and the match.
“I think they got a little to confident in that second set, but they pulled it back together and that’s the important part,” said Williamson.
“We feel a lot better now, and having a big win like this is big before the area tournament.”
For Armuchee, who will have their senior night on Thursday when they host Calhoun and Murray County, Mary Bess Skinner finished with four six kills. Coosa will travel to Pepperell on Tuesday for their next action.
“Other than getting rattled, the girls played really well,” said Armuchee coach Stacy Payne. “You have to stay focused and not let one little thing just rattle you completely, and that’s what we did in that first set.
“They got rattled and couldn’t get back in it, but they came back in that second set but we just couldn’t pull it out,” added Payne.
“We can’t let this get us down because it doesn’t hurt us that bad in the Area standings, and we have to stay pumped for the Area tournament.” Darlinton’s Bailey Brock attempts the block on Christian Heritage’s Savannah Roberson during Tuesday’s match at the Huffman Center.
Over at the Huffman Center, the Lady Tigers started senior night on a bit of sour note after being swept in straight sets against Walker.
But Darlington’s four seniors — Alyson Atwell, Bailey Brock, Mackenzie Scott and Mary Lyn Stegall — were not about to let their senior night end without a win.
The Lady Tigers won the first set 25- 17 and then took the second set 25-18 to preserve the win.
Brock had 16 assists in the win, 24 total on the day and Scott had three aces. Reeves Trivette had four kills and Sammi Harton had five aces and 19 digs.
“We played really poorly in that first match and I’m really glad we turned things around,” said Darlington coach Leah Groat. “It was a good win and I’m glad we are sending our seniors off with a win in their last regular season home match.
“They’re a great group of girls and they deserve everything,” added Groat.
The Lady Tigers are guaranteed a few more games at home since they are hosting the first round of the 6-A Area tournament. Darlington will have one more non- area match on Tuesday when they travel to Cartersville.
“Hopefully this will give us some confidence going into the area tournament,” said Groat. “I think if we had gone out after that Walker game we would have gone into the tournament feeling pretty poorly, so it’s good to end Area with a win.”
In other action:
Rome swept on the road The Lady Wolves suffered a tough night as they traveled to North Paulding and were swept in straight sets by both Hiram and Lithia Springs.
Rome lost to Lithia Springs 25- 5 and 25-15, and then fell to Hiram 2515 and 25-16. The Lady Wolves will have senior night on Monday when they host Chattooga.
Calhoun sweeps Pepperell, Model As the lone senior honored on Senior Night at Calhoun, Taylor Palmer had her time in the spotlight on Tuesday.
Palmer had 24 kills and five aces combined in the two wins for the Lady Jackets. Calhoun ( 29- 6- 1, 9- 0) defeated Pepperell 2-0 (25-15, 25-15) in the first match, and then followed that up with a 2-0 (25-10, 25-12) win over Model.
Molly Palmer had a good night as well contributing 13 kills, four aces and two blocks. Amber Parker had nine aces and a kill, and Olivia Wilkey had five aces and three kills.
Calhoun visits Armuchee on Thursday for a tri- match with the Lady Indians and North Murray. Memorable senior night
for Sonoraville
Sonoraville hit the volleyball trifecta on Senior Night.
The Lady Phoenix swept two Area 4-AAA foes, the completion of a second consecutive undefeated Area regular season championship, and attaining the 30 win mark for the third straight season.
The Lady Phoenix did so in straight sets, defeating LakeviewFort Oglethorpe ( 25- 16, 25- 7) and Adairsville ( 25- 12, 25- 5). LFO defeated Adairsville in two sets.
Sonoraville seniors, Nikki Eitutis and Jennilee Gentry, went out in style for their final regular season home matches. Eitutis had 28 digs, a kill and 10 aces. Gentry had four kills, two blocks, 12 digs and three aces. Carrie Cheeks pounded 22 kills, and had seven blocks, 18 digs, and an ace.
Kristi Vaughn had 25 assists, 21 digs, a block, four kills and four aces. Savannah Wilbanks had seven kills, two blocks, six digs, and five aces. Haley Ponder had three kills, a block and three digs.
Bre Horner had 16 assists, two kills, six digs and two aces. Delaney Bell had three digs. Emalie Hicks had a kill, two assists, and a dig, and Taryn Hickey added a kill and a dig.
The Lady Phoenix (30-9, 7-0) wrap up their regular season with a trimatch at Rockmart versus Rockmart and Temple on Thursday.
The Area 4- AAA tournament begins Oct. 11 at Adairsville, with the finals being played Oct. 13 at Cartersville.