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Lady Devils hold on to defeat SM
Swain held off Smoky Mountain 27-25, 25-18, 19-25, 29-27 in a non-conference volleyball match Oct. 3 at Bryson City.
“It’s always disappointing to lose, but I think Swain is one of the better teams we’ve played,” Coach Tonya Snider said. “This was the team I’ve been looking for all season. Every single person on the court contributed. It was an outstanding effort.”
The Lady Mustangs led 16-12 in the first game after five points, including an ace, by Brittany Gilbert and a kill and block from Jennifer Webb. Swain scored seven of the next eight points to take the lead, but SM forged a 24-24 tie after three points, including an ace, by Sarah Haggard and Gilbert’s kill before the Lady Devils clinched the game.
Smoky Mountain’s Cassie Randall makes a pass in last week’s four-game loss at Swain. – Photo by Mark Haskett
LeNay Shular’s four points, including an ace, put the Lady Mustangs up 8-3 in the second game. Swain scored nine unanswered points to take the lead for good.
SM fell behind early in game three, but three points, including two aces, by Gilbert cut the gap to 5-4. The Lady Mustangs pulled into a 16-16 tie on three points by Colleen Davis and moved ahead 22-18 after Kelli Woodard served five points, including an ace, and Amy Haggard had a kill. The game ended on Webb’s kill for a side out.
Woodard’s four points, including an ace, gave SM a 13-11 edge in game four. The score stayed close the rest of the way until the Lady Devils pulled it out at the end.
Webb put down 17 kills, and Sarah Haggard handed out 26 assists. Amy Haggard came up with 12 digs and handled 19 of 23 serve receptions. Davis handled 10 of 11, and Gilbert handled 14 of 18.
Woodard was tops in service points with 10. Gilbert served 94.7 percent, and Davis was at 92.3 percent. Team serving was 85.6 percent.
Swain won the JV match 25-17, 25-14.
“We’ve got to learn to come out strong,” Coach Natasha Wilson said. “When we do that, we’ll start winning ballgames.”
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