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Lady Mustangs rally to take another match in five games
Smoky Mountain won its third straight volleyball match in five games with a 21-25, 25-23, 18-25, 27-25, 15-10 victory over Murphy on Aug. 28 at the SM gym.
The Lady Mustangs overcame a big deficit in game four when they were on the brink of defeat.
“That was a total grind from start to finish,” Coach Ken Walker said.
Smoky Mountain’s Kelly Childress knocks the ball over the next in last week’s five-game win over Murphy. – Photo by Mark Haskett
“We just didn’t play our game,” added Natasha Wilson, assistant coach.
SM fell behind 4-1 in the fifth game but fought back to take the lead for good at 12-10 on two points, including an ace, by Kelly Childress. Sarah Haggard served the two clinching points.
Three service points from Brittany Haskett gave the Lady Mustangs an 8-6 edge in the first game. She had three more points later in the game putting her team up 18-17. Murphy took the lead for good at 22-19.
The Lady Bulldogs led early in the second game, but SM cut the gap to 12-11 after three points from Brittany Gilbert and kills by Amy Haggard and Childress. The Lady Mustangs moved in front 15-13 following three points by Megan Taylor and kills from Amy Haggard and Cassie Randall. They led 19-15 as Sarah Haggard served three points and Amy Haggard put down a kill. Murphy pulled into a 23-23 tie, but Gilbert put SM ahead with an ace and also served the final point with the game ending on Amy Haggard’s kill.
The Lady Bulldogs controlled game three after taking leads of 9-4 and 19-10.
They appeared on the way to winning the match with a 20-13 lead in the fourth game. Randall reeled off six points, and Gilbert had a kill for a 20-20 tie. Murphy served for the match but failed to convert as Childress had a key block. She then served the last two points, including an ace, with Amy Haggard’s kill winning the game.
Amy Haggard and Kelli Woodard both put down 13 kills. Sarah Haggard handed out 35 assists.
Woodard and Haskett were perfect in 13 and nine serves, respectively. Randall, who led in service points with 10, served 94.4 percent.
Team serving was 87.9 percent.
The Lady Mustang JVs won for the first time 25-21, 25-15.
“The girls are starting to jell as a team,” Wilson said. “It was good to get our first win. Hopefully, there will be a lot more to come.”
She singled out Natasha Key for her play at the net and Jodi Henkle for her passing.
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