One down, two to go… Lady Cyclones topple Crockett in volleyball quarterfinals, 3-0
Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 9, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone Kaitlin Bailey sends the ball across the net with authority for a point in Monday's quarterfinal volleyball game against Crockett.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton's Mattie Davis dinks the ball across the net and beyond the reach of the Crockett defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone Deanna Hull sets to serve the ball to the Crockett side of the net.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone Josie Lyons sets the volleyball up for teammate Kaitlin Bailey to make a kill.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone Kaitlin Bailey dinks the ball high over the attempted block of a Crockett defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Kallista DePrimo prepares to serve to the Crockett side of the net in Monday's district opener for the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Morgan Smith sends a blazing return that neither Lady Pioneer defender could handle resulting in a point for the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone Whitley Maupin goes to her knees to dig out a ball in Monday's match at Sullivan Central.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
BLOUNTVILLE – The Elizabethton Lady Cyclones probably didn’t play their cleanest match in the quarterfinal round of the Three Rivers Conference quarterfinal opener but all that matters was they were able to sweep three straight sets to advance to Tuesday evening’s semi-final showdown against host Sullivan Central who swept
Johnson County.
Elizabethton dispatched of the Crockett Lady Pioneers 25-11, 25-9, and 25-10 to advance.
Behind Kaitlin Bailey who was dominated at the net with eight kills and Brittany Kitchens who added 12 digs defensively, the Lady Pioneers didn’t stand a chance as they saw their season come to an end.
The Lady Cyclones also had four kills apiece from Whitley Maupin and Hannah Boster. Deanna Hull added double-digit digs with 11.
With the win, the Lady Cyclones improved to 22-14 on the season as they prepare for their semifinal match with Central who the Lady Cyclones have handled twice in the regular season.
On the line is a spot in the regionals where a trip to the state tournament will be the ultimate prize.
“We had a little trouble executing there,” said Lady Cyclone head coach Leslee Bradley. “It was a different kind of feel with an early game and not that many people in the gym yet.
“I think that we felt that a little bit but we executed and did what we needed to do to move on. The next match will be a lot tougher than tonight’s was.
“Tonight was good to just get our feet wet but Tuesday we will need to execute and make sure we are putting serves in, we have to make sure we are putting third balls in, and we have to make sure we are playing really good defense because Central has a powerful offense,” continued Bradley.
“It’s going to be a dogfight so we have to be ready for anything they throw at us.”
