Lady Cyclones punch ticket to sectional round
Published 9:36 am Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Star Photo/Bryce Phillips
Lady Cyclones’ Mary Beth Biggs keeps a hard hit shot in play during Tuesday night’s match with Greeneville.
By Matt Hill
CORRESPONDENT
KINGSPORT–Following a 30-28 game one defeat by Greeneville in the Region 1-AA Volleyball Tournament semifinals on Tuesday night, EHS head coach Leslee Bradley wanted to know how her team would respond.
She got her answer, as throughout the rest of the match, Elizabethton outscored the Greene Devils 75-38 in the final three games, emphatically punching their ticket to the Sectional round.
CORRESPONDENT
KINGSPORT–Following a 30-28 game one defeat by Greeneville in the Region 1-AA Volleyball Tournament semifinals on Tuesday night, EHS head coach Leslee Bradley wanted to know how her team would respond.
She got her answer, as throughout the rest of the match, Elizabethton outscored the Greene Devils 75-38 in the final three games, emphatically punching their ticket to the Sectional round.
The dream season remains intact with Elizabethton winning 28-30, 25-10, 25-11, 25-17 to continue the season. Now the Lady Cyclones will face either Christian Academy of Knoxville or Knox Catholic on Thursday night.
Elizabethton had to overcome a tough first-game loss, and had to decide whether they were going to throw in the towel or go back out and give it their all.
They went out and completely dominated the match.
After having seven service errors in game one, Elizabethton completely turned that around and serving became a strength.
The Lady Cyclones also became more aggressive on offense and the Greene Devils could not handle them.
The power was all over the court as Chloe Hambrick had 13 kills, Madyson Smith had 11, Sarah Slagle had nine and Rikki Wagner had eight.
Elizabethton controlled every part of the last three games and had no trouble closing out the match.
“The first game was tight and we have been pulling those games out,” said Elizabethton head coach Leslee Bradley “It was definitely a little nerve racking that we didn’t pull that one out. At the same time we knew the reason it was that close was because we needed to play cleaner volleyball.”
“I preach serving every day and we really take that part of the game seriously. The first game we missed seven serves and you can’t have that.
Elizabethton had to overcome a tough first-game loss, and had to decide whether they were going to throw in the towel or go back out and give it their all.
They went out and completely dominated the match.
After having seven service errors in game one, Elizabethton completely turned that around and serving became a strength.
The Lady Cyclones also became more aggressive on offense and the Greene Devils could not handle them.
The power was all over the court as Chloe Hambrick had 13 kills, Madyson Smith had 11, Sarah Slagle had nine and Rikki Wagner had eight.
Elizabethton controlled every part of the last three games and had no trouble closing out the match.
“The first game was tight and we have been pulling those games out,” said Elizabethton head coach Leslee Bradley “It was definitely a little nerve racking that we didn’t pull that one out. At the same time we knew the reason it was that close was because we needed to play cleaner volleyball.”
“I preach serving every day and we really take that part of the game seriously. The first game we missed seven serves and you can’t have that.
“Volleyball is a game of momentum and if you miss serves, you can’t get the momentum, so we did a really good job of getting their focus back and getting balls in play,” she added. “They definitely were focused the last three games and rode momentum all the way to the end.
“We really just played loose and let it all out there,” said Bradley. “We played how we liked to play.”
Bradley dedicated this to all the girls who have played volleyball at Elizabethton and says this is a great day for Elizabethton High School.
“This is huge,” said Bradley. “It is huge for the team and it is huge for the program and for this girls who came before this team and laid the foundation and for the way these girls have encouraged each other. It’s the season that none of us want to end and we are going to do what it takes to keep it going.”
The Lady Cyclones battled hard in game one of the championship match with Sullivan South on its home court, but South just had too much firepower in a 25-16, 25-8, 25-11 win over EHS.
Mary Beth Biggs, Madyson Smith and Rikki Wagner were named to the All-Tournament team.
“We really just played loose and let it all out there,” said Bradley. “We played how we liked to play.”
Bradley dedicated this to all the girls who have played volleyball at Elizabethton and says this is a great day for Elizabethton High School.
“This is huge,” said Bradley. “It is huge for the team and it is huge for the program and for this girls who came before this team and laid the foundation and for the way these girls have encouraged each other. It’s the season that none of us want to end and we are going to do what it takes to keep it going.”
The Lady Cyclones battled hard in game one of the championship match with Sullivan South on its home court, but South just had too much firepower in a 25-16, 25-8, 25-11 win over EHS.
Mary Beth Biggs, Madyson Smith and Rikki Wagner were named to the All-Tournament team.
