McNair volleyball coach Gwen Edwards (in middle) goes over some strategy with the Lady Mustangs during a timeout. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The McNair Lady Mustangs played hard but could not overcome the front line of the Athens Academy Spartans in a 3-0 Class 2A state tournament loss in the first-ever volleyball home playoff game on Tuesday night at McNair.
Athens Academy (13-25) jumped out to a 10-2 lead before McNair Coach Gwen Edwards called a timeout to try to stem the run. The timeout seemed to work as McNair outscored the Spartans 4-3.
McNair pulled within six at 16-10, 17-11 and 18-12 before the Spartans went on a 7-0 run behind the front line play Nina Kline, Veronika Babbitt and Sally Swan who found the openings in the McNair defense to win the opening set 25-12.
More big hits by Swann and Kline came in the second set and another 7-0 run to finish to win 25-7 to go up 2-0 in the match.
McNair’s Ashley Gomez (in white) returns a ball as teammate Kei’Asia Clayton (2) waits to hellp. (Photo by Mark Brock)
McNair fell behind 6-1 early in the third set before gaining some momentum behind the play of Kei’Asia Clayton and Jada Howard to close the gap.
Clayton tapped a shot into the open middle of the Spartans defense, and they hit a service ace to close the deficit to four (11-7). Athens Academy responded with several nice plays by Kline, Reese Jarrard and Chloe Love Bell. Kline hit one off a blocker, Jarrard found a gap on a touch shot up front and Bell had a put away as the lead vaulted to 18-10.
McNair responded with a pair of blocks at the net from Jada Howard to make it 18-12. Kline led another run by Athens Academy as they pulled out to a 20-12 advantage.
Te’Niyah Butler put a shot away off a Spartan blocker and McNair quickly cut the lead to 20-14. Kline responded with a kill, a service winner and a second kill as Athens finished off the match with a 5-0 run to win the third set 25-14.
Lakeside (28-8) fell 3-0 in a Class 6A road match at Veterans to end the Lady Vikings season. In Class 4A play the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers (20-20) dropped a 3-0 first round match on visiting Heritage-Catoosa (28-6).
In two other Class 2A first round playoff matches Redan (14-18-1) fell 3-0 to Banks County (30-9) and Towers (5-19-1) dropped a 3-0 decision to Providence Christian (33-11).
DCSD VOLLEYBALL STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS/SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Oct. 17
CLASS 6A
Veterans (29-8-2) 3, Lakeside (28-8) 0
CLASS 4A
Heritage-Catoosa (28-6) 3, SW DeKalb (20-20) 0
CLASS 2A
Athens Academy (13-25) 3, McNair (18-19) 0
Banks Co. (30-9) 3, Redan (14-17-1) 0
Providence Christian (33-11) 3, Towers (5-18-1) 0
Wednesday, Oct 18
CLASS 5A
Ware Co. (18-12) at Chamblee (20-21), 5:00 pm
Tucker (17-20) at Greenbrier (17-16), 5:00 pm
Hanner Fieldhouse – Georgia Southern University
Arabia Mountain (20-16) vs. Statesboro (21-17), 6:30 pm
CLASS 3A
Hart Co. (26-5) at Cedar Grove (3-23-1), 5:30 pm