With drama, Lady Lions, ACHS fall to Farragut v’ball

Chalk up two dramatic victories for Farragut Lady Admirals volleyball.

Leading two-sets-to-one and two points away from the fourth and match-clinching set against visiting Anderson County Monday, Aug. 29, Farragut won only one of the final six points and lost the set 26-24. The match would come down to a 15-point do-or-die fifth set.

Unlike in the first four sets, in the fifth there was never any doubt for Farragut.

The Lady Admirals jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the fifth, then cruised to a 15-6 set win, and a 3-2 match win.

“Our first game of the week and we pull it out with a win,” said FHS head coach Jo Madden, whose team improved to 2-3. “The girls didn’t want to lose this one. And we’re gonna battle and we’re gonna (give) everything … our libero started picking it up.”

AC won the first set 25-19, only to see FHS go ahead 2-1 with consecutive 25-22 wins in the second and third sets.

“This was a great match for confidence,” FHS senior hitter Mack Turner said. “When we got up this last set, it showed our perseverance and we got the big points in the end.”

Turner led the Lady Admirals in kills with 20; hitter Elsa Morrison had 12. Setter Tori McNair led in assists with 46 while Addison Owen led the team in digs with 21.

Edging Lady Lions

Against Concord Christian at CCS Tuesday, Aug. 23, the Lady Admirals fell behind two-sets-to-one. But a close win in the fourth set followed by a dominant fifth gave FHS its first match win of 2022, 18-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 15-6.

“My girls came out determined to win this one and play hard,” Madden said. “We changed a little bit in our rotation. We were missing one of our defensive players (Addison Owens). The girls made it up for her. ...”

“We played with more energy, which we were lacking for the sets we lost,” setter Tori McNair said.

Lady Lion Lily Richards had a match-high 14 kills. Morrison led Farragut with 13. High for assists was McNair with 23; Richards led CCS with 15.

“We just have to clean up some things,” Richards said.

Lady Lion Katelyn Stooksbury had a match-high 23 digs; Avery Mandl led FHS (15).

“It was a fun match, and Farragut has some scrappy players over there,” Lady Lions head coach Carmen Hochevar said. “We’re pretty young … a rebuilding year.”

Loss at Heritage

Farragut suffered 3-1 loss at Heritage Thursday, Aug. 25, in its first District 4-AAA match. FHS stat leaders were Morrison (13 kills), Mandl (15 digs) and McNair (23 assists).