By Michael Lindsay
The Cumberland County Lady Jet volleyball team earned a crucial District 7-2A victory Thursday night on their home floor as they defeated the current top-ranked team Stone Memorial in 5 sets.
“We’ve been putting in work for three years now and these girls are special,” said Cumberland County head coach Rodney Howard. “I couldn’t be more proud of them for fighting against a very good team like that (Stone).”
The Lady Panthers had swept their previous 7 district matches without losing a set before Thursday’s game at Cumberland County.
“Their middle killed us last time, so we had to switch some girls around in the front row,” said Howard. “Just knowing that worked and these girls have that confidence now, the sky is the limit.”
Cumberland County won the first set 25-15 before Stone Memorial answered to win the second, 25-10. The Lady Jets responded with a 25-18 victory in the third set before Stone Memorial forced a fifth set by winning the fourth, 25-21. The Lady Jets secured the victory by winning the fifth set, 15-11.
Stone Memorial opened the fifth set with a 4-2 advantage before the Lady Jets tied the match at 4-4 via a CC Tessa Hayes kill. After trading points, Cumberland County took an 8-6 lead via a Mallary Woodard ace.
A Hayes tip at the net followed by another Woodard ace extended Cumberland County’s lead to 10-6 in the fifth before the Lady Panthers pulled within two points at 11-9. The Lady Jets withstood the run and capped off their 15-11 fifth-set victory via a kill by Hayes to secure the win over Stone Memorial.
“This was a whole team effort,” said Howard. “Dani Hassler played on this side and we knew their middles would hit over here. She had like 30 digs tonight and played incredible. Our setters put the ball where it needed to be and our middles played it perfectly.”
Lucy Grothe led Stone Memorial with 20 kills followed by 13 from Lauren Clark.
The Lady Jets are scheduled to play at Kingston on Monday while Stone Memorial is set to travel to Meigs County.
“We have seven games of the regular season left,” said Howard. “We have to keep our momentum. These girls get a well-deserved break after this, then we come back Monday and bring it.”
