Volleyball Falls in Sweet Sixteen Match
By EDDY GIFFORD
Sports Writer
The Lady Wolverine volleyball team hosted Rabun County last week in the first round of the state tournament. Here, Zoie Smith sets up teammate Brooklyn Konrad for the kill. On Saturday, the Lady
Wolverines season ended when they lost three sets to one to Mt. Bethel. Congratulations to the Lady Wolverines volleyball team on a great season.
The Dade County High School Lady Wolverine volleyball team opened play in the state volleyball tournament last week when they hosted Rabun County on Wednesday afternoon. Rabun made the three-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Tiger arriving only a few minutes before the first set
The Lady Wolverines got off to a good start by taking the first set 25-20 in the best of five match.
The ladies of Rabun bounced back in the second set, downing Dade in a close match 26-24 to even the match at 1-1.
The Lady Wolverines settled in and took the third set 25-10, dominating the visitors from the start.
The same would be true for the fourth set as DCHS continued to dominate, taking the fourth and deciding set, 25-9 and the match 3-1, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen while Rabun’s season ended, and they took the long ride back to Tiger.
The Lady Wolverines were led in kills by Brooklyn Konrad (13), Abby Guffey (10), and Anna Ballard (9).
Heidi Raines (28), Delaynee Davis (21), Zoie Smith (21), and Anna Ballard (15) led the team in digs. Zoie Smith (33) was the leader in assists in the four-set win.
Nest up for the Lady Wolverines was Mt. Bethel, a private school in Atlanta. Dade traveled there for a Saturday afternoon match hoping for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Mt. Bethel would take the first set in the best of five, 25-16.
The Lady Wolverines settled in and took the second set 25-21 against the top ranked team in the state in Class A, to even the match 1-1.
In the third set Dade struggled and fell 12-25.
In the fourth set the Lady Wolverines needed a big rally to stay alive, but it was not meant to be as they dropped the set 19-25 and the match 3-1.
Konrad (12) had another big day leading the team in kills. Smith (26) was the team leader in assists while Davis (26), Ballard (22), and Raines (20) led the way in digs.
Dade County, Armuchee, and Pepperell were all eliminated by private schools in the tournament while Darlington, the only private school in our region was also eliminated.
The Lady Wolverines had another big year finishing second in Region 7A and advancing to the state tournament. Congratulations on a great season!