FAKE OUT — Instead of a power slam, Walker Valley’s Morgan Elrod (7) pushes a little dink past would-be Bradley Central blockers Monica Hammond (23) and Rebecca Rueter (26) for a point while Kayla Arp (2) moves in to defend. Lady Mustangs Kayla Sewell (16), Caitlin Geren (3) and Bristol Snider (15) look on as the fillies from the north side run a clean sweep of the season-opening volleyball action at Jim Smiddy Arena. Banner photo, JOE CANNON
After taking the freshman and junior varsity matches in two straight games, the Lady Mustang varsity trailed only once while claiming a 3-0 victory over Bradley Central.
“We came ready to play,” commented Walker Valley head coach Judy Pruett. “We played real smooth. All 10 of our varsity players contributed in the win.”
“I think I was more nervous than the girls were,” she added. “It’s good to get this first match behind us. To be able to come in here and play great is a big plus.”
Bradley Central head coach Christie McElhaney was stunned after the match. “I don’t understand. We had two successful scrimmages and a great practice yesterday (Monday), but we didn’t have it today.”
“I’m very disappointed with the way we played,” she continued. “We never got in sync. We weren’t mentally focused. It looked like we waited until after the game started to try to get ready, and you can’t do that.”
The Bearettes are without senior standout Allie Bynum, who is recovering from a torn ACL and hopes to get released by her doctors so she can start practicing next week.
“We’re starting a pair of freshmen up front and our starting setter has a sore shoulder, plus missing Allie, but we are a much better team than we showed tonight,” assessed Bearette assistant coach Terry McElhaney.
After notching the 25-10, 25-14, 25-13 victory, Walker Valley will now prepare to host Rhea County Thursday evening while the Bearettes will travel to Athens to face McMinn County that same evening.
Jumping out to a 9-2 advantage to start the match, the Lady Mustangs put the opening game away when senior Karis Terpstra rolled off eight straight service points to push the lead to 20-9.
Bradley Central claimed its only varsity lead of the evening by scoring the first point of the second game, but eight of the next nine scoreboard clicks went to the visitors as they galloped off to another double-digit win.
The Bearettes tied the third game twice (3-all and 6-all) but a 6-0 run off the service hand of senior Kayla Sewell helped the Lady Mustangs to pull away down the stretch.
Sewell finished with six kills, five blocks and 11 service points, including an ace, on the evening.
Caitlin Geren had 21 assists and a half dozen service points, with an ace, while Terpstra collected a trio of kills, a pair of blocks and seven service points.
Madison Akins helped out with nine service points, three being aces, plus she had 10 digs. Katie Wilds and Leslie Still added four and three kills, respectively.
Kayla Arp paced Bradley with eight assists, a half dozen digs, one kill and an ace. Allison Hayes had 15 digs, while Rebecca Garrett powered four kills, a pair of digs and an ace.
Monica Hammond downed four kills as well, plus had a dig, while Emily Wilson and Kayla Rymer had three digs apiece.
In the junior varsity match, Eryn Walker served up 15 points, plus had five assists and an ace as Walker Valley won 25-20, 25-12.
The freshmen teams had a classic 25-23 tangle in the opening game before the Lady Mustangs closed out the match with a 25-16 win in the second game.
Rachel Lawhorn led the victors with nine service points, with a pair of aces and a block. Alex Rominger had a trio of aces in her eight service points, plus she downed a pair of kills. Alexis Wright had a solo block and a kill.
