By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SPRING GARDEN – In less than 10 days, the Spring Garden Lady Panthers will be hosting the Class 1A Area 12 volleyball tournament. Head coach Ricky Austin feels his team is beginning to peak at the right time.
The defending Class 1A state champion Lady Panthers swept area foe Jacksonville Christian 25-6, 25-8, 25-9, then swept county rival Cedar Bluff 25-7, 25-15 on senior night for six players on Monday evening. Those six seniors are Ace Austin, Chloe Fennell, Maggie Jarrett, Olivia Law, Kristen Lewis and Avery Steward.
“All of our seniors have always been special, but this group is really tight,” Coach Austin said. “I love this group. They’ve been so fun. I hope our fun is not over. I hope we’ve got a lot fun still left in front of us.”
Coach Austin described the Lady Panthers’ play on Monday as “very clean.” He said it’s carried over from last Thursday’s match wins over Cherokee County and Alexandria.
“I like our defense right now,” he said. “We’re blocking and reading hitters well, picking balls up. We’re making it difficult to put a ball down right now. I feel like we’ve got some really good flow about us. Blocking was really good last Thursday and I thought that carried over into today.”
Against Jacksonville Christian, Ace Austin accumulated 13 kills, six assists and two aces for the Lady Panthers (26-11). Steward added 28 assists and five digs. Jarrett collected eight kills, four assists, three aces and two blocks. Law also came away with eight kills along with three blocks, two assists and an ace. Lewis posted eight digs, two aces and an assist.
Fennell came away with two kills and an assist. Hollis Jane Petty had a kill and an ace. Lacie Jo McMurray contributed two assists. Lleyton Carroll came away with two aces and Aubrey Kelley had three assists.
In the nightcap against Cedar Bluff, Ace Austin collected nine kills, five digs, three aces and a block. Steward managed 22 assists, four aces, two digs and a kill. Jarrett came away with seven kills, four digs and an ace. Law contributed seven digs and four kills. Lewis earned six digs and an ace.
Montana Highfield posted two digs, a kill and a block. Fennell contributed a kill, a dig and a block. Carroll finished with an ace.
“It’s taken a while to get some chemistry and some flow. I’ve just been kind of waiting, but the waiting game is over. It’s time to get it done now and I’m liking the results,” Coach Austin said. “What I really like is the practice sessions we’re having. We’re coming out at practice feeling like we’re moving forward every day. I really love that feeling.”
Rylie Walker collected five assists, three digs and two kills for Cedar Bluff (12-17) in the loss to Spring Garden. Kindal Grace gained three digs and a kill. Janaya Higgins also had three digs. Anslee Evans and Kaylyn Vadon both had a pair of kills. Evans also added a pair of blocks and Vadon had an ace. Logan Goza posted a block and Caley Bruce finished with a kill.
Cedar Bluff also defeated Jacksonville Christian 25-17, 25-12.
Walker collected 10 assists, three kills, three digs and two aces. Grace delivered eight kills and two digs. Higgins managed four kills, two digs and an ace. Goza and Vadon both had two kills. Vadon also had three digs and an ace. Goza also added an assist. Mackenzie Kimmons and Paityn Walker both had a kill. Evans had an assist and Bruce finished with a kill.
