Lady Ads’ comeback falls short
In the first round of the Region 2, District 4-AAA Volleyball Tournament Monday night at West High School, fourth-seeded Hardin Valley Academy survived a determined comeback by fifth-seeded Farragut High School to defeat the Lady Admirals 3-2.
The Lady Hawks won the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-15, and it looked like they were going to sweep the Lady Admirals like they did in the regular season.
But Farragut had other ideas and won the next two sets, 25-22, and 28-26, to set up a decisive fifth set. In that set, the teams battled an 11-all tie, but HVA won the final four points to win the set 15-11 and clinch the match.
The result set up second-round matches on Tuesday between FHS and eighth-seeded Lenoir City in the losers’ bracket, and between HVA and top-seeded Maryville in the winners’. The tournament’s format is double elimination.
“I was glad to see that we fought back and didn’t go out in three like last time,” FHS coach Whitney Lee said. “We made some subs and I think that brought some life and new energy.”
“We panicked a little bit (after the second),” said Eric Boden, HVA coach. “Farragut’s a great team, well-coached, and I told them ‘they’re gonna put the pieces together here shortly, and they did in the third and fourth.’”
A strong start and long mid-match scoring streak gave Valley the second set fairly easily and what seemed like an insurmountable 2-0 lead. Farragut led 12-8 in the third, then the teams traded points, and FHS closed it out with a kill by outside hitter Megan Frana.
When the Lady Hawks led 22-15 in the fourth, the match seemed all but over. But the Lady Admirals promptly reeled off eight of the next nine to tie it at 23. They then saved two match points and took the set with the final two points.
“We played poorly in the first two sets and that’s not how you want to start a tournament,” said Lee. “I think they were proud of themselves and proud of each other (for the comeback).”
West 3, Bearden 0
In the night’s third match, the host Lady Rebels swept the Lady Bulldogs 3-0 to advance to play William Blount in the winner’s bracket. The loss sent Bearden to the loser’s bracket to play Karns.
The set scores were 25-15, 25-22, and 25-14.
Lady ‘Dogs’ coach Kaitlyn Davidson thought her girls never really got going.
“We weren’t sharp tonight. We did not play our best game,” said Davidson. “I think we wanted it so bad that we were just so tense. I felt like my leaders did what they were supposed to do but we just didn’t have enough to execute.”
West led 16-12 in the first, then won nine of the final 12 to take the set. WHS seemed firmly in control in the second, leading 20-13. But Bearden then won nine of 12 to trail by only one, 23-22. The Lady Rebels closed it out with the final two.
West jumped to a 13-5 lead in the final set. BHS fought back, but a 6-0 run by WHS built a lead the Lady ‘Dogs couldn’t overcome.
Bearden defeated Karns in the regular season, and Davidson likes her team’s chances in the second round, but takes nothing for granted.
“I told the girls ‘we’re not done,’” Davidson said. “I feel confident (about Karns), but it’s definitely not a team I would sleep on.”
