LaFayette moves into state Top 10

The LaFayette Lady Ramblers opened last week by dusting Cedartown and Chattooga Tuesday night in Summerville.

LaFayette started off by toppling Cedartown, 25-14 and 25-18. Jillian Morgan had seven kills and three digs. Katie Dixon added five kills and five digs. Gracie Stier had three kills, three digs and two aces. Elaina Kirkendoll finished with three kills. Blakley Lankford chipped in with six aces and three digs, while Emily Redden added 18 assists.

In the nightcap, the Lady Ramblers dispatched the host Lady Indians by identical 25-16 scores.

Morgan had eight kills, six digs and three blocks, followed by Dixon with eight digs, five kills and four aces. Stier had four digs and a block, while Redden added a 10-dig, 13-assist double-double.

The Battle of Walker County took place on the court at LHS on Thursday evening and it was the home team that won the three-way dance.

The Lady Ramblers, who busted into the ScoreAtlanta.com rankings at No. 9 in Class AAAA, handled Ridgeland, 25-14 and 25-18, before ending the night with a 25-17, 25-18 win over Gordon Lee, who is ranked No. 8 in Class A.

Morgan had 11 kills, seven blocks and four aces for the Lady Ramblers. Dixon recorded 11 digs, eight kills and seven aces, while Stier added nine digs, five kills and four aces.

Other standouts included Bailey Tarvin (5 digs, 2 aces), Kirkendoll (6 kills, 2 blocks), Redden (5 digs, 2 kills, 28 assists) and Lankford (12 digs).

Then on Saturday, the Orange-and-Black finished at the runnersup in the Silver Bracket of the Coosa Invitational, falling to Area 6-AAAA foe Heritage in the finals. LaFayette won the opening set, 25-23, but the Lady Generals would come back with 25-19 and 25-21 victories in the final two sets.

LaFayette was in pool play, beating Darlington (25-12, 2520) and Sonoraville (25-14, 27-25), but losing to two more stateranked opponents in Class AAAAAA No. 5 Northgate (25-11, 25-14) and Class AAAA No. 7 Northwest Whitfield (2521, 25-18) 4A

The Lady Ramblers handled Douglas County, 25-16 and 25-14, in their Silver Bracket semifinal match.

LaFayette (16-5) will play two matches at Pickens on Tuesday in Jasper. The first match will be an area match, while the second will be non-area. On Thursday, they will join Cass for a tri-match at Calhoun, also beginning at 5.