Jr. Lady Cyclones pull out win over Robinson on Eighth Grade night
Published 12:42 am Saturday, September 21, 2019
1 of 9
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Bailee VanHuss (2) and Gracie Kirsch (4) are elated over the Jr. Lady Cyclones coming back from a deficit to take the lead late in the first set.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jr. Lady Cyclone fans celebrate their team's big rally to take the first set in Thursday's match against Robinson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Ava Owen sends the volleyball back across the net for a Jr. Lady Cyclone point in Thursday's match against Robinson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Bailee VanHuss bumps the volleyball toward the front line in Thursday's match.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
TAD head coach Kendall Ivester calls a timeout to settle her team at a key point in the first set against Robinson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Marley Lewis sets to serve the volleyball to Robinson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Zoe Proffitt prepares to serve the volleyball in the first set of TAD's game against Robinson.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Jr. Lady Cyclone Krisalyn Elliott digs the ball as her teammate, Gracie Kirsch, looks on ready to make a play if necessary.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
T.A. Dugger's Marley Lewis (10) and Karie Merritt (11) celebrate a Jr. Lady Cyclone point in Thursday's match against Robinson.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
When T.A. Dugger went looking for a new head volleyball coach, they were looking for someone who could help get the junior high program rising to the level of play where they would be ready to contribute when they enter high school.
They tabbed Kendall Ivester who was familiar with ultra-success at the middle school volleyball level as she was instrumental in helping Mary Hughes win state titles in volleyball.
From all indications, the administration made the right move as Ivester led the Jr. Lady Cyclones to a 2-0 win over Robinson on Thursday night in dramatic fashion as both teams prepare for the district tournament that begins today at T.A. Dugger in a double-elimination format.
Trailing by as many as five points in the first set, Ivester managed to settle her team down as the Jr. Lady Cyclones began the comeback with solid serving and great net play to earn a 25-21 first set win.
The second set was just as tight as the first as the Jr. Lady Cyclones may have been a little more relaxed in the tight-fisted affair knowing that they had already secured the first set.
By the time the dust settled, TAD salted away the match in two sets by winning the second one by a 25-22 score.
The eighth-grade members of the team who were honored with their parents included Bailee VanHuss, Maylie Stout, Gracie Kirsch, Makiah Williams, Krisalyn Elliott, Marley Lewis, Karie Merritt, Zada Hardin, Ava Owen, and Mackenzie Thompson.
In the junior varsity contest, the TAD Jr. Lady Cyclones dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 match to Robinson.
After dropping the first set 25-22, the Jr. Lady Cyclones fought back resiliently to take a tough 28-26 win in set two to force a third set to 15.
Coach Crystal VanHuss’ team just couldn’t take advantage of a couple of opportunities in the third and decisive set as Robinson squeezed out a 15-13 set to earn the win.
