Volleyball teams battle Tullahoma

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Lady Pioneer senior Amanda Goad blocks a shot against Tullahoma while Karen Marlowe (14) and McKenna Rhea follow the play during Monday’s scrimmage. (Rob Nunley photo)

On Monday the Warren County High School and Warren County Middle School volleyball teams hit the road for a pair of pre-season scrimmages against the Lady Wildcats of Tullahoma.

The Lady Pioneers came up short in their match, falling 2-1 to the Lady Wildcats varsity team, while the middle school squad was victorious with a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats’ junior varsity.

In the first game for the Lady Pioneers, serving became an issue. Warren County had the game tied three separate times, but missed serves gave Tullahoma the 25-20 win. In the second game Warren County started out strong on the net as senior Courtney Martin came up with several big blocks to shut down the middle game of Tullahoma. The Lady Pioneers were behind 10-14 when the Lady Wildcats served seven straight points and closed out the game 25-15.

In the third game passing for the Lady Pioneers improved. Better movement in the back court made it easier for setter Candace Stubblefield to get the ball to her hitters McKena Rhea and Amanda Goad who claimed several put-aways to give Warren County a 25-16 win.

“Our seniors have to play up to their ability and when they don’t it gets us in trouble,” said coach Franklin Fisher. “The first two games we couldn’t serve or pass the ball but in the last game everybody stayed focused and did a better job.

“We have to get better on our passing and stay focused for an entire match. We have several young players in the backcourt but our seniors have been playing for four years and they have to get the job done.”

Things were a lot better for the middle school as they pounded Tullahoma’s junior varsity team 25-14 in the first game. Serving by Amy Hutton and Kallie Haley helped the Lady Pioneers to a 17-1 run. The Lady Pioneers played solid defense to close out the first game with the win.

The second game went to Tullahoma. After a slow start and some missed passes Warren County started to mount a come back but the Lady Wildcats kept pressure at the net to take the victory.

Warren County rallied in the third and final game to take the 15-10 win. Serving again helped the Lady Pioneers and good net play on defense created problems for Tullahoma as the WCMS picked up the match.

“I was very pleased with our serving. The girls stayed focused during the entire match and moved to the ball very well. Beating a high school junior varsity team is a big mental victory for us and the girls played really well tonight,” said middle school coach Farrah Griffith.