Undefeated West Henderson knocks off Smoky Mountain

Not only have the Lady Falcons not lost a match, they have not lost as much as a game all year. That nearly changed in game two as the Lady Mustangs (13-6) held a 13-12 lead.

"We played excellent volleyball in game two," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "West is an outstanding team, but we showed when we play at our best we can be competitive with them."

West took a 6-0 lead in game one and breezed to the win.

The Lady Falcons led 6-2 in the second game, but SM rallied for a 9-8 edge on four points from Carly Harshman and Katie Loughlin's kill. Two points, including an ace, from Ryan Cook tied it 12-12, and Christy Pruett's serve, along with Loughlin's kill, put the Lady Mustangs up 13-12. West scored the final three points.

The teams didn't even get through the first rotation in game three as West closed the match on a 12-1 run.

Pruett put down six kills, and Harshman had 11 assists.

Harshman was tops in service points with seven. Not missing a serve were Harshman (14), Cook and Amber Stephens (nine) and Pruett (six). Team serving was 94.1 percent.

West won the JV match 15-12, 15-13 dropping the Lady Mustangs to 5-14. Jessie Woodard served 11 straight points in the second game as SM rallied from a 14-2 deficit to close within 14-13.

"Jessie served well in the second game," Coach Nikki Young said. "Danielle (Bowers) hit well, and Bonnie (Claxton) passed well. We played much better in the second game, but we ran out of luck at the end."

The Lady Mustangs will now turn their attention to the home stretch of the season as they try to claim one of three Mountain Athletic Conference spots in the state 3-A playoffs. They are currently fourth in the MAC.

SM will be home today (Thursday) to face arch rival and first-place Franklin. The JVs will start at 5 p.m. with the varsity to follow. League play will continue Tuesday at Roberson before concluding at home on Thursday, Oct. 18, against Enka.

The lead was 3-1 at intermission after yet another header. Hall scored the goal at the 27-minute mark off a cross from O'Cain.

"We fell down on that one," Coach Brown said. "We didn't mark the kid, and he was open far post." O'Cain drilled home the final goal on a free kick two minutes into the second half.

Asheville dominated the game with 21 shots to SM's five. Will Peoples made 14 saves for the Mustangs. The Cougars' Michael Young had four, and Patrick Kelly came off the bench for one. "Cory Carpenter had his best game," the coach said. "His effort was outstanding. Stephen had one of his best games."

He also singled out Matt Taylor and Silas Webb and said Peoples had some nice saves. Asheville was a 6-0 winner in the JV game. The halftime margin was 2-0.

"We played mush better," Coach Bo Carpenter said. "We played Asheville very tough." He singled out Carl Moore and Eddie Noell.

A makeup game with Pisgah is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

Back to Sports: 10/11/01.