East Hamilton did something Monday that coach Kristy Lenoir said her team had struggled to do all season.
“We played beginning to end,” Lenoir said after the Lady Hurricanes beat Central 3-0 in one of the quarterfinal matches in the District 6-AA high school volleyball tournament at East Hamilton.”We played from point one to point 25 and got better throughout the match.”
Game scores were 25-20, 25-16, 25-8.
East Hamilton (22-19) advances to play regular-season champion Red Bank (36-15) this afternoon at 4:30. The Lady Lions defeated Brainerd 25-4, 25-3, 25-9.
Today’s other semifinal will be between Hixson (15-31) and East Ridge (20-27) at 6, and the final is scheduled at 7:30.
Hixson won its quarterfinal against Tyner, and the Lady Pioneers defeated Howard. Both were 3-0.
Lenoir was particularly pleased with her team’s net play. Briley Considine totaled nine kills and Allison Walden had seven.
“I was very happy with our middles,” Lenoir said. “We ran a lot of stuff out of our middles.”
Sydney Harris aided the victory with 15 assists and three aces.
Ansley Helton’s 11 digs and 10 aces were highs for Red Bank, which got 16 kills from Kalyn Helton and 16 assists from Abby Graham.
Hixson endured an inspired performance by Tyner before finally cruising in the last game and winning 25-16, 25-17, 25-8.
“They gave a huge effort,” Hixson coach Janet Tate said of the Lady Rams. “Hats off to them. They improved from the last time we played.”
Kennady Thomason paced the Lady Wildcats with nine kills in 10 attempts. Chance Davis had 11 assists and Ciera Taylor led with 15 digs and six aces.
“I thought C.T.’s serves were really good,” Tate said. “It looked like she put the ball where she wanted to.”
East Ridge surrendered the first four points of its match before going on to win 25-10, 25-11, 25-19. Coach Catherine Neely said it took her girls a little while to figure things out.
The Lady Pioneers’ top hitter was Daisha Jackson, who landed with 20 of 28 spikes.
“She really has a passion for what she’s doing,” Neely said. “She’s got such a good vertical jump and she’s quick off the ground. I think she’s capable of this every time. She’s just a great athlete.”
Haven Carter, who’s been battling an ankle problem, set for 32 assists and Bekah Bolis, who’s been sick recently, equaled Markia Harden for the team lead with 14 digs. Janece Parham led in aces with five.