By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

SPRING GARDEN – Spring Garden’s newest volleyball fan, Oakley Dale Bates, made sure his mother, head coach Madison Bates, would make it back in time to coach in the Lady Panthers’ Class 1A, Area 15 championship match on Wednesday.

The 7-pound, 13-ounce healthy baby boy came into the world on Saturday morning at 4:10 a.m., allowing his mother the opportunity to return to her coaching duties against rival Cedar Bluff in Wednesday’s area title match.

It was a match Bates called one of the Lady Panthers’ best of the year.

Spring Garden swept the Lady Tigers 25-10, 25-8 and 25-13 to earn a home sub-regional match on Monday against Area 16 runner-up Woodville at 6 p.m.

And Bates owes it all to her newborn son’s cooperation to make it back in time to coach in her first area championship match at the helm of the Lady Panthers (26-18).

“I’m lucky he came when he did,” Bates said. “It gave me the weekend (to recover). I couldn’t miss this. This group of girls is such a special group of girls. I’m just excited for them and wanted to be there for them.”

“I’m so happy she made it in time,” lone Lady Panther senior Lacie Jo McMurray said. “Her little boy is doing awesome. I’m glad she had a good delivery. It’s nice having her here, especially for our biggest game of the year.

“We’ve been having a little bit of trouble with consistency, putting sets together, but tonight we did awesome. We really put our sets together. I’m so glad I get another game on the court and playing with the team I have.”

Bates said she hasn’t returned to teaching just yet, but she actually came to volleyball practice on Tuesday. Her husband Eli took care of little Oakley so she could coach the Lady Panthers.

“He just pushed him around in the stroller, outside and inside, while we practiced,” Bates said.

Bates said she also owes an assist to her assistants, Stephanie Steward and Jordan Sides, who is Bates’s sister. The duo coached the Lady Panthers earlier on Wednesday afternoon in the tournament semifinals against Gaylesville. The Lady Panthers also swept that match 25-17, 25-9 and 25-9 to reach the area championship match.

“When my water broke Friday as I was getting my stuff ready to come to practice, my sister drove me to the hospital,” Bates said. “I called Stephanie and said ‘Hey, my water broke, so I won’t be at practice.’ She said ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got everything handled.’ She handled practice, set up for area, she’s handled everything. That’s been the biggest blessing. I haven’t had to worry about anything.”

Aubrey Kelley led the Lady Panthers against Cedar Bluff (18-13) with 25 kills, three digs, an assist and an ace. Addie Word added five kills and two digs. Lleyton Carroll contributed 35 assists and 17 digs.

Maya Jennings delivered seven kills and three blocks. McMurray posted 10 digs. Addie Smith managed seven digs and Gracie Simpson had four digs. Anna Mae Griggs gained four aces. Bella Garmon had two aces and a dig. Kylie Bates came away with two kills. Hayden Parris and Lily Kate Ward both finished with a dig.

In the win over Gaylesville, Kelley compiled 16 kills, two digs, two blocks, an assist and an ace. Carroll collected 27 assists, five aces, two digs, a kill and a block. Bates earned seven kills. Word came away with five kills, three blocks and two aces.

Jennings delivered four kills and a block. McMurray managed three digs and an ace. Smith had a dig. Griggs had a pair of aces. Ward had an ace and Carmen Truss finished with a kill.

In Wednesday’s other tournament semifinal, Cedar Bluff outlasted Appalachian in four sets 25-12, 20-25, 25-17 and 28-26 to claim it’s spot in Wednesday’s area championship match.

The Lady Tigers will travel to Area 16 champion Valley Head, also on Monday at 6 p.m.

“We didn’t play our best volleyball tonight, but we still found a way to pull it out (against Appalachian),” said Cedar Bluff coach Deidra Cox, who is also expecting a child in early November. “I’m real proud of how the girls fought down. We were down at least 11 at one time and came back and won. That just shows the grit and toughness they have. They were ready in that moment. They found a way and that’s all you can ask from them.”

Against Appalachian, Walker collected 19 kills, 13 digs, nine assists and an ace. Timm earned 16 assists, seven digs, four kills and two aces. Martin posted 34 digs, two kills, two aces and an assist.

Davis contributed 13 digs, nine kills and an ace. Cromer accounted for seven digs, four kills and two aces. Horton had three kills, three blocks, two digs and an assist. Jakirah Brown managed two kills and an ace. Jahleigh Dodd delivered 10 digs. Kimmons came away with six digs.

Against Spring Garden, Paityn Walker posted six digs, three kills, three assists and a block for the Lady Tigers. Marlee Timm tallied five assists, two kills and an ace. Vana Martin managed eight digs.

Cece Davis delivered seven digs and two kills. Piper Cromer came away with three kills and two digs. Marley Horton had a pair of kills. Makayla Kimmons managed six digs. Jahleigh Dodd and Dede Moore both finished with a dig.

In Gaylesville’s season-ending match against Spring Garden, Chloe Collins compiled 10 assists, eight digs and an ace. Lydia Reynolds posted nine digs, six kills and an ace. Abbie Bishop added four kills, two blocks, a dig and an assist.

Aubree Colbert contributed seven digs and two kills. Charlee Sentell also had seven digs with two assists. Alyssa Collins came away with three kills and a block. Bayleigh Ratliff finished with a kill, a dig and an assist.