Lady Pioneers edged by state power Siegel

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Bethany King of the Warren County volleyball team returns the ball during her team’s match against Cumberland County Monday afternoon. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

With the weather canceling school and most athletic events slated for Tuesday, the Lady Pioneer volleyball team hit the hardwood on Wednesday to take on Siegel in the Charlie Dalton gym.

Despite being raned among the top teams in the state, the Lady Stars had their hands full as Warren County matched Siegel point for point in all three games. But after the final ball was served Siegel slipped back to Murfreesboro with a 25-22, 25-23, 27-17 win in the District 7-AAA match.

The Lady Pioneers came out strong in the first game, taking the lead over the Lady Stars. Warren County looked as if it had complete control of the game after going up 11-4, but Siegel fought back and pulled with in three at 12-15. The two teams were tied at 20-20 and Warren County even took a 22-20 lead, but Siegel scored the final five points to secure the win in the opening game.

Play in the second game saw pretty much the same thing as Warren County’s aggressive net play and solid serving gave it the lead for most of the game. But once again the Lady Stars worked their way back into contention to win by three points.

In the final game Warren County continued to play well, but a few mistakes let Siegel take an early lead. Serving was still strong for the Lady Pioneers, but the Lady Stars closed the match out with an eight-point victory in the final game.

Alysa Lankford and McKenna Rhea had six kills each with Lankford adding one block. Mary Kate Fisher had 10 assists, with Brittany Frazier picking up seven. Frazier led the team in scoring with 15 followed by Fisher with 11 and Ashlee Malone with 10.

On Monday Warren County defeated Grundy County 25-8 and 25-13, and slipped past Cumberland County 25-21, 22-25, 25-16 in a tri-match held at WCHS.

Lankford had 14 kills on the night, with Rhea adding 10. Fisher led with 15 assists, Lankford and Heather Frazier had four aces each and Heather Frazier led with 10 digs.

“We’re not into moral victories,” said coach Franklin Fisher, “but I was very proud of the way we played against such a good team. Siegel should be one of the teams to make it to the state. So to go head-to-head with them shows how far our program has advanced.”

Warren County is now 10-3 on the season and 1-2 in district play. The Lady Pioneers are scheduled to travel to Tullahoma Tuesday.