GAINESVILLE — The Gainesville volleyball team improved to 18-3 on the season after taking a pair of wins in a tri-match Thursday.
The Lady Red Elephants rallied for a 2-1 win (23-25, 25-12, 15-11) over East Jackson in the opening match and then held off Lumpkin County 25-18, 25-23 in the second match. But they fell to Habersham Central 25-22 and 25-22 in the nightcap.
Isabella Garrish led the way for Gainesville with 57 assists, 2 aces, and 18 digs. Ansley Turner added 4 aces, 27 kills, 5 blocks, and 10 digs, Lauren Ware had 3 aces, 11 kills, 2 blocks, and 6 digs, and Kerrigan Gruhn had 4 aces, 9 kills, 3 blocks, and 4 digs.
Lauren Teasley added 14 kills and 5 blocks, Kendal Glasper had 11 kills and 9 blocks, and Margaret Embry added 2 aces, 4 assists, and 17 digs for the Lady Red Elephants.
Gainesville is off for a week before opening its Region 6-7A schedule next Thursday on the road against Lambert.
CHEROKEE BLUFF SWEEPS
Cherokee Bluff took a pair of wins straight-set wins on Thursday.
The Lady Bears knocked off Class 7A Mountain View (25-14, 25-23) and then took down Class 6A Shiloh (25-17, 25-12).
Tristan Boling had 2 aces, 8 digs, and 19 assists, Madie Levine had 6 aces, 4 digs, and 8 assists, and Laura Ross contributed with 7 kills, 2 aces, and 2 digs for Cherokee Bluff. Camille Godfrey added 5 aces, 7 digs, and 1 assist, Abbi Hutchins had 13 digs, 3 assists, and 1 ace, Brandyn Peterson had 1 kill and 4 blocks, and Emma Staples added 10 kills, 2 aces, 2 digs, and 1 block for the Lady Bears.
Sage Sutulovich had 8 kills and 1 dig, Grace Blythe Cornett had 5 kills and 3 blocks, and Jaydn Jarrard 3 aces, and 2 digs, and Abi Whitaker 1 dig and 1 kill.
TALLULAH FALLS BEATS TOP-1O RANKED WHITE AND RABUN
In the White County match, the Lady Indians took control about midway through the first set. After the teams swapped points for the first half, TFS went on a run of eight straight points to go up 19-14. The girls went on to win that set 25-20.
The second set featured some amazing volleys between the two teams, and TFS was up 5-4 before again scoring eight straight for a 13-6 lead. The Lady Indians continued to pull ahead, padding the lead to 21-10 late in the set. The girls went on to win handily, 25-13 to take the set and match.
It was a complete team effort, with stellar digs by Sarah Jennings, Rebekah Jennings, and newcomer Alba Romanos. Romanos also recorded quality assists, as did Sarah Jennings and Allie Dalton. Katy Corbett, Abby Carlan and Sarah Jennings all played well at the net with some vicious kills.
White County was ranked No. 6 in the Class 3A and had previously beaten TFS on two separate occasions.
RABUN COUNTY MATCH
The girls picked up where they left off, taking down Rabun County in straight sets. Rabun had been ranked as high as #5 in Class 2A and came in ranked #9.
The first set saw Rebekah Jennings go on a lengthy serving streak, and the girls cruised to a 25-9 win. The second set was a bit tighter, as Rabun County kept it close early. TFS held a 10-8 lead before five straight points put them up 15-8.
The visiting Lady Wildcats wouldn't go quietly and stormed back to pull within 19-15. The Lady Indians put the set and match away with a 6-2 run to close out the night with a 25-17 set win.
SCORE RECAP
W 2-0 vs. No. 6 White County: 25-20, 25-13
W 2-0 vs. No. 9 Rabun County: 25-9, 25-17
