OCOEE SEVENTH GRADE — The Ocoee Middle School seventh-grade girls volleyball team registered an 18-1 record this season, defeating Cleveland Middle in their final game this weekend. The team’s only loss was to Hunter Middle School in tournament play. Coach Aubrey Reagan, standing right, guided the team with the help of assistant Hannah Campbell, left. Players include, back row from left, Cayleigh Morrow, Madison Pruett, Sara Wilson, Madison Russo and Mikayla Lumpkin. Kneeling in front are, from left, Ashlyn Flock, Alexan Crittenden and Myriah Brown. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS
All of the matches were close between the intense rivals, with Cleveland holding the upper hand at the end of the night with two victories to a single win by Ocoee Middle.
Perhaps the most exciting match of the evening was a three-game upset by Cleveland over the Lady Colts’ sixth-grade team. The Lady Raiders pulled out a 14-25, 25-17, 15-12 victory to hand Ocoee’s youngest team its first loss in 11 matches.
Ocoee Middle School’s powerful seventh-grade team ran its record to 18-1 with a convincing 25-16, 25-19 win over the Lady Raiders. Ocoee Middle dropped only a single match this season to district foe Hunter Middle School in tournament play.
The eighth-grade nightcap was a close, competitive match, although Cleveland managed to pull out a two-game decision.
Cleveland’s eighth-grade girls dominated the first game, 25-13, but had its hands full the second game. The Lady Raiders jumped ahead at 11-5 in the second game, but Ocoee rallied with 14 of the next 15 points for a 19-12 lead.
Cleveland then staged a rally of its own, catching up at 22-22, and going on to a 25-23 match-winning decision.
Cleveland High School coach Trish Flowers helps coach Brandi Ownby with the middle school teams, which has compiled a winning record this year at all grade levels.
Cleveland Middle’s sixth-grade team finished the regular season with a 12-1 record, the seventh-grade team was 9-3 and the eighth graders 8-3.
Walker Valley coach Judy Pruett coaches the Ocoee Middle eighth grade, while Tina Moore has the sixth-grade team and Aubrey Reagan the once-beaten seventh-grade team.
Coach Pruett is very pleased with Ocoee Middle’s overall record during the season.
The eighth-grade team is ranked in first place in the SETAC going into tournament play this week.
In last week’s next-to-last match, Ocoee Middle’s sixth-grade team defeated Lake Forest, 25-19 and 25-11, with Makayla Lewis getting nine service points and Danie Sowder eight. The seventh-grade team won, 25-7 and 25-10, with Sara Wilson and Alexis Crittenden topping the service points. The eighth-grade team won a close 25-19, 22-25, 15-6 match behind the serving of MacKenzie Elrod and Nikki Prugh.
