GARNETT — Forgive Teri Carlin if she doesn’t have any fingernails today. THE SEVENTH-GRADERS brought home a dominating 25-7, 25-8, 25-15 A-team victory.
The Iola Middle School head volleyball coach saw her eighth-grade A-team work its way through four nerve-wracking sets on the way to victory over Anderson County.
“Those close ones sure do drive me crazy, and we have had quite a few lately,” Carlin said after Iola closed out a 25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25 victory Tuesday night. “I was proud of the girls for staying focused. They never gave up and kept playing hard through mistakes and good plays.”
Iola coasted to the wins in the first two sets, and stayed within shouting distance in the third but never could pull even.
That changed in the fourth set. Iola forged ahead, 24-19, and was serving for the game.
Anderson County proceeded to score six straight and take a 25-24 lead.
Iola got the ball back and served the next two points for the win.
Madison Carlin led the way with 15 assists, two kills off tips and an ace serve. Scout Rush had nine ace serves, two kills and an assist. Colbi Riley had six ace serves, eight kills and an assist. Katie Bauer had eight kills and three ace serves. Emma Weseloh had three ace serves, one kill and one assist. Karly McGuffin had four kills and an assist. Sophie Whitney had an ace serve.
Iola opened strongly in the B-team contest, winning 25-12, but could not maintain that pace, dropping the next two sets, 25-19, 15-7.
“We had a little serving trouble in the second and third sets,” Carlin said. “Chloe Wilson had some strong hits. Macayla Bycroft played the net well. Sophie Whitney continues to be our most consistent server.”
The C-team won, 25-19, 25-17 in the squad’s first full match on their own.
“They took advantage of the opportunity to get a big win,” Carlin said. “Kylee Hunter has shown great improvement in her passing. Emily Mollins made some key passes. Brylee Maley had some great serves to give us a boost.”
“The girls truly had fun playing this game,” seventh-grade coach Stacy Sprague said.
Jayden Jackson’s 21 of 23 serving “got us off to a great lead,” Sprague said. “Garnett had toruble receiving our serves, and in the third they they started receiving and we had to play.”
Piper Moore was 16 of 19 serving.
“Our shining star was Madisyn Holloway,” Sprague said. “She served 13 out of 14. It’s such an improvement for her. She struggled to serve at the beginning of the year.”
The B team fell, 15-25, 25-13, 15-13. Kassy Shelby was 8-for-8 serving. Macie Martin was 12 of 17 and Kayla Simmons 5 of 6.
“these girls played hard,” Sprague said. “I am so proud of them and their improvement.”
The C-team fell, 26-24, 25-11. Brie-Anna Winner, Ni’Kya Shortsleeve and Sadie Maple all served well, Sprague said.
Iola Middle school squads pick up wins
