Ooltewah beats Sale Creek volleyball team in four sets

Ooltewah's Amya Sutton celebrates during the Lady Owls' 3-1 volleyball win Tuesday night against visiting Sale Creek.
Ooltewah's Amya Sutton celebrates during the Lady Owls' 3-1 volleyball win Tuesday night against visiting Sale Creek.

Frustrated by her team's play in a weekend tournament in Knoxville, Ooltewah volleyball coach Elaine Peigen collected the new varsity uniforms.

With a goal in mind to get their game-day swag back, the Lady Owls stepped up their game at home to take three of four sets from Sale Creek on Tuesday night.

"We really communicated better and had more girls step up all around," Peigen said. "Hopefully we are on the right track. They are having to wear old uniforms until they get back to the level they can play. They may have earned them back tonight. We only have two seniors, but we have the talent to have a successful season if we keep progressing."

The final set had fans on the edge of their seats as the Lady Panthers (2-2) dug back from a deep hole after trailing 16-9.

Ruthie Parks made a spectacular dig on a hard hit to help earn a point, and a block by Kaci Billingsley and a kill by Gabi Lacheney created a 24-22 lead for the visitors.

Making up for lost time after sitting out with an ACL injury last season, Ooltewah senior Daisja Knox halted a potential set-winning kill on the right side of the net as she leaped high for a momentum-swinging rejection.

Knox flashed her versatility as she led all with 18 assists - often setting up Amya Sutton in the right spot - while also finishing with seven kills and four blocks.

The Lady Owls (2-6) sealed the deal as Kaylee Jarnagan landed kills down the line to help win a fierce fourth set 27-25.

"Kaylee and Amya had some key hits when we needed them," Piegen said of the combo that accounted for 19 kills. "Daisja was a game changer for us, too. She jumped high and really put the ball down. We have been telling her to explode, and I think she is starting to realize she can really get up and hit."

Ooltewah won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-22 but dropped the third 25-21.

The Lady Owls trailed 11-7 in the first set but bounced back with a 6-0 run in which Sutton and Jarnagan each had a pair of kills.

Sutton finished with five aces and tied for the team lead in digs with Hannah Irwin at 25.

Bouncing back from a tough tournament, Ooltewah travels to start district play against Walker Valley this Thursday.

"The biggest thing for our team is to finish plays and communicate," Knox said. "We have to do it for each other this season. Communication is a big part of the game. I hope to be a great leader on and off the court for my team this year."

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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