Calhoun County, AL – Alexandria, White Plains overcome some early adversity to win their season-opening matches
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Alexandria 2, Lawrence County 0 (25-21, 25-23)
Alexandria 2, Madison Academy 0 (25-18, 25-23)
Munford 3, Vincent 0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-15)
Southside 2, Oxford 0 (25-13, 27-25)
Thompson 2, Oxford 0 (26-24, 25-14)
Wellborn 2, Glencoe 1
Wellborn 2, Weaver 0
White Plains 3, Piedmont 1 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-16)
Faith Christian at Spring Garden
Jacksonville, Pell City at Ashville
Pleasant Valley at Hokes Bluff
Woodland at Cleburne County
By Al Muskewitz
The Alexandria volleyball team faced its share of adversity during the season last year and handled it better earlier than later.
The Lady Cubs faced adversity twice in their season-opening tri-match Thursday night and fought through both situations to sweep Lawrence County and Madison Academy.
They were down by 10 late in the second set against Lawrence County and came back to close it out 25-21, 25-23. They faced a similar deficit in the second set against Madison Academy and again came back, 25-18, 25-23.
“I’m proud of them for fighting back,” Lady Cubs coach Whitney Welch said. “I thought we handled adversity well last year many times but not at the end when it mattered most I think this group learned a lot from that and are in a good mindset to learn and grow every day as it’s a process. [*** read more]
White Plains 3, Piedmont 1
The Lady Wildcats won their season opener after dropping the first set and falling behind 20-18 in the second after opening an 18-6 lead that forced coach Bradley Dawson to call an attention-getting time out.
“I told them we are too old and experienced for me to have to call a time out to stop them,” Dawson said. “If this would have been late in the year or regionals I would have called it sooner, but eight of the nine are juniors or seniors. We’ve got to learn how to stop runs without me having to burn a time out. But they rallied back and won.”
Bella Higgins led White Plains with 16 kills, nine aces, five blocks and 10 digs. Braton Moran had four kills, five aces and 24 assists. Leighton Arnold had six kills, two aces and five digs. Mary Scism had six kills and three aces.
“I think our biggest key is we are a pretty aggressive serving team,” Dawson said. We got a little sloppy at times, but I’m really proud of the girls for just competing the whole game.”
Oxford stats
KILLS: Jamea Gaston 6, Abbie Mitchell 8, Daelyn Bozeman 6, Jaslyn Montgomery 4.
ASSISTS: Jamea Gaston 5, Payton Brooks 11, Jaslyn Montgomery 2.
DIGS: Jamea Gaston 5, Payton Brooks 8, Ashlyn Burns 8, Abbie Mitchell 5, Daelyn Bozeman 5, Arilyn Pool 7.
