Dominant vs. CCS, Lady Ads volleyball improved to 7-1 at start of the week
The Farragut High School volleyball team kicked off its 2024 season in impressive fashion Thursday evening, Aug. 21.
On the road at Concord Christian School, the Lady Admirals swept the best-of-three match, 25-15 and 25-14. While CCS fell to 0-3, FHS stood at 7-1 entering this week.
FHS used long scoring runs to pull away and close out each set. Second-year coach Andre Alves was satisfied with the overall team effort.
“We played clean and managed the ball, managed the runs, and we made them earn their points,” he said. “They did a great job. We were playing loose and executing what we practiced.”
CCS coach Mandy Richards knew her team was going to be challenged. “They’re a great team,” she said. “We lost a lot of seniors from last year and we’re pretty young. We made too many errors.”
In the first set, the Lady Admirals led 14-11. An 11-4 run from that point closed it out. In the second set, the Lady Lions led 9-8. FHS then won nine of the next 10 points to lead 17-10.
Two consecutive points from CCS made it 17-12, but Farragut cruised from there.
Senior outside hitter Trinity Rye — new to the team from San Diego — led FHS in kills with nine. Junior setter Bella Ekeler led the Lady Ads in both assists, with 13, and digs, with seven. Senior utility player Loryn Neeley had six digs.
Rye’s athleticism at the net on kills was stark. “Trinity was amazing tonight,” Alves said. “I believe I have the best setter in the state,” referring to Ekeler.
Senior Paisy White reflected on how the team pulled away in both sets.
“Once we decided to work as a team together we started getting some points and got a run in and by then we were up five, six and decided to dominate,” the 6-foot-3 middle hitter said.
“Just extremely proud of them,” Alves said.
Prior to the match, the Lady Admirals’ junior varsity team had a sweep of its own, winning 25-22 and 25-23. FHS got strong serving from Maddie Kupferer. “We’ve been working really hard in practice and they’ve implemented what we’ve worked on,” JV coach Sydney Culpepper said.
