1st Farragut ‘W’ a tough 5-setter vs. Lady Lions

After losing its first two matches of the 2021 season, the Farragut High School volleyball team notched its first victory Thursday, Aug 19.

But it didn’t come easily for the Lady Ads. It was, however, a win they sorely needed.

“It feels awesome,” FHS head coach Jo Madden said after watching her team capture a 26-28, 25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 15-13 decision versus Concord Christian School in Farragut’s Lynn E. Sexton Gymnasium. “We really needed this win. We needed it for our momentum.

“We’re excited to get this win. We got down but we really responded tonight,” she added. ”We came in focused on playing well together and playing for each other.”

Early on, it appeared the losing trend would continue against the Lady Lions (1-2).

Concord Christian darted out to a fast start in the first set, opening an 8-3 advantage on a service ace by libero Anna Birling.

The Lady Lions never relinquished the upper hand in the first game, opening a 23-14 lead, but Farragut came alive and clawed their way back into the set thanks to six consecutive service points by Kate Priest.

Her run pulled FHS to within 23-22 before Concord scored five of the next nine points.

In Game 2, it was the Lady Admirals who prevailed. CCS took the third set before Farragut cruised in the fourth game setting the stage for a fifth and deciding set.

The Lady Lions took control early, opening a 6-2 advantage on a service point by Juliana Kuhn.

But FHS would wrestle the upper hand from Concord and take a 10-8 lead on an ace by Livingston Holley, who also had a solid defensive match with 16 digs.

From there, Farragut would never trail again. Priest had 15 kills and 20 digs. Ellie Ackermann recorded 14 kills and Kennedy Holley posted 12 kills and 16 digs.

“I think we let this one get away,” longtime CCS head coach Carmen Hochevar said. “I thought we played really good defense and I was pleased with our attacks.

“But we’re losing points at crucial times, and that happens early in the season,” she added.

Concord’s Annabelle Sulish led all hitters with 24 kills. She also had 11 digs and a pair of aces. Mady Sulish finished 12 kills while Katie Cooper had 11 kills, four digs and an ace.