Lady Cyclones rally over Boone to take first win of the season
Published 10:36 am Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Jasy Shell pushes the ball over the net during the junior varsity game.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Kinsley Britian looks to set up her teammate.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Adrianna Jones looks for the block.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Head coach Greg Abarientos gathers his squad for some last-minute instructions.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Lady Cyclone Zyleigh Bates digs the ball off the serve.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Abby Gwinn sets the ball near the net for a teammate.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel The Lady Cyclones come together before the start of the match.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel The Lady Cyclones look to score off the set.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Lady Cyclone senior Jocelin Julian prepares to serve.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel The Lady Cyclones varsity team looks to rally, down 14-11 in the first set.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel Senior Ava Wilder spikes the ball down for the score.
Star Correspondent/Ron Marvel The Lady Cyclones look to find rhythm near the net.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
First-year Elizabethton volleyball head coach Greg Abarientos picked up his first win in the Lady Cyclones’ first match of the 2024 season as they rallied to knock off a quality opponent in Daniel Boone. After losing the first set 18-25, the Lady Cyclones played aggressively to take the final three sets 25-22, 25-17, and 25-21.
Numerous unforced errors in the first set put the Lady Cyclones in trouble early, falling behind 9-5. However, after getting that first set out of the way, the Lady Cyclones were able to play a better brand of volleyball in the final three sets, cleaning up their errors and playing with focus and intent. The Lady Cyclones tend to be very aggressive with their service game, which clearly rattled the Lady Trailblazers and allowed the Lady Cyclones to dictate the pace through the final three sets.
Libero Zyleigh Bates showed toughness and grit throughout the game, finishing the night with 20 digs, some from her knees. Ava Wilder finished the night with 12 kills and 5 blocks, while outside hitter Ainsley Wampler also contributed 12 kills and 5 blocks. Setters Jocelin Julian and Abby Guinn were all over the court, contributing a remarkable 36 assists between them. Sophomore Jasy Shell added 9 kills.
After the game, former Milligan University standout player Abarientos praised his squad’s efforts against the senior-laden Lady Trailblazers: “The girls played great! After that first set, we minimized our errors and played at the tempo we have tried to maintain all preseason. We flew around the court on defense and made a lot of good, scrappy plays. We had a lot of energy tonight and focused on the game one play at a time. We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a game we can build on,” Abarientos shared.
Junior Varsity: 25-19 and 25-23 over Daniel Boone
The JV Lady Cyclones team got the momentum going early as they won in straight sets over the Lady Trailblazers. Jayci Shell played well both defensively and offensively, while Morgan Lewis and Mahalah Nave also had solid games. The Lady Cyclones will hit the road Tuesday night to take on Tennessee High. Match time is set for 6:30 p.m.
