The way the first game went in Tuesday’s District 5-AAA high school volleyball match at Ooltewah, it served notice that the match could go the maximum distance.
The first game was right.
Eventually Ooltewah pulled out a 3-2 victory over Soddy-Daisy, winning 15-13 in the decisive game after trailing in it 12-8.
“They could’ve easily given up in the third game and the fifth game,” Ooltewah coach Elaine Peigen said of her players. “They showed their character and showed what type of season we’re going to have. Soddy-Daisy has a good team.”
The largest winning margin Tuesday was the Lady Owls’ 25-19 victory in the second game. They won the fourth game 25-21.
The Lady Trojans (16-7, 2-2) won the first game 25-23 and owned the largest lead in the game – 20-17. Six times Ooltewah led by two and the game was tied 10 times.
“We played our hearts out, so I don’t have any regrets about that,” Soddy-Daisy coach Lorri Johnson said. “It would be nice to finish those. We’ll get there. We’re young.”
Johnson said one area where she would’ve liked to have seen better proficiency was in the Lady Trojans’ blocking. Not so for Ooltewah (13-2, 4-0), which scored with six blocks by Leondra Barrett and five each by Kianna Delaney and Alex Martin. Rachel Shaughnessy’s four topped Soddy-Daisy.
Martin, the Times Free Press Best of Preps 2009 all-city player of the yea, has been slowed by a knee injury. She had seven kills playing sparingly, and Peigen said she’s playing at “about 50 percent.”
Delaney has helped pick up the hitting slack and delivered 22 kills against the Lady Trojans. Mackenzie Glass led with 25 digs, and Loren Bennett paced Ooltewah with 26 assists.
“I’m especially very anxious for this year because we lost a core group of seniors last year,” Peigen said. “We’re trying to get this group to work together and play as a team. They’re very talented. If we can get them to work together, I think they’ll do well.”
Hayli Raines, one of Soddy-Daisy’s two seniors, and Kelsey Nunley were the hitting leaders for the Lady Trojans. Raines also led with 19 digs.
Setters Olivia Holden and Sarah Davis totaled 24 and 17 assists. Davis has been out with a knee injury and was playing for the first time this season.
Johnson isn’t concerned yet about where her team might be seeded in the district tournament.
“We haven’t even played everybody once yet,” she said. “It’s going to be a heck of a tournament.”