All five local high school volleyball teams were in action Tuesday night with Cass and Cartersville sweeping opponents to begin their 2022 seasons.
First-year program Excel Christian Academy won while Woodland split matches and Adairsville lost twice in Chickamauga.
COLONELS TOP GORDON CENTRAL, TEMPLE TO OPEN 2022 CAMPAIGN
The Cass High volleyball team opened the 2022 season Tuesday night at home with wins over Gordon Central and Temple.
The Colonels defeated Gordon Central 25-22, 25-15, and later defeated Temple 25-23, 25-21.
Carson Brannon had nine service aces for the Lady Colonels in the two matches and Harlee Davis added six. Jenesys Moctezuma totaled 20 digs and Jada Zimmerman compiled six kills.
Cass (2-0) travels to Jasper Thursday night to take on Murray County and host Pickens beginning at 6 p.m.
CANES OPEN SEASON WITH STRAIGHT SETS WINS
The Lady Canes began their 2022 volleyball campaign Tuesday night at the Storm Center with wins over Northwest Whitfield (25-13, 25-20) and Pickens (25-10, 25-11).
Against Pickens, Ailee England totaled nine kills, three aces, two digs, and one block to help lead the Hurricanes. Lauren Lawson had six kills and one block. Lily Gochee contributed 18 assists with four digs. Tennesse Abernathy was credited with four kills. Riley Jarrett had four digs while Mia Nicklas added two digs and a pair of assists.
Nicklas had seven digs and five service aces in the Cartersville win over Northwest Whitfield. Gochee shared 20 assists. Abernathy totaled seven kills. England finished with six kills, Lawson contributed six kills and two blocks, and Jarrett added four aces.
The Lady Canes (2-0) travel to Acworth Thursday evening to face Allatoona and host North Cobb Christian.
EXCEL CHRISTIAN DEFEATS COVENANT CHRISTIAN IN THREE SETS
Coach Katie Jones and the new Eagles’ volleyball program earned a hard-fought three-set win Tuesday night over Covenant Christian of Cedartown.
Excel won the opening set 25-18, dropped the middle set 19-25, but held on to win the deciding set, 27-25.
Julia Ray led the Eagles to eight straight points and knotted the score in the final set after Excel trailed 24-16. Chae Vieria’s service ace was match point.
Excel hosts Heirway Christian Academy Friday at 6 p.m.
WOODLAND SPLITS MATCHES WITH SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD AND PAULDING COUNTY
Woodland volleyball defeated Southeast Whitfield in three sets before losing in straight sets to Paulding County Tuesday night at home in non-region action.
Woodland defeated the visiting Raiders 25-14, 18-25, and 15-9. The Lady Cats fell to the Patriots 15-25 and 22-25.
Madison West had 11 kills, six digs, and three aces on the night for Woodland. Kendall Condon finished with 18 assists, eight digs, four kills, and three service aces. Anastyn Jones totaled six kills, six aces, and six digs. Bailee Motes produced four kills and two aces while Lili Womack contributed 16 digs and four aces.
Woodland (2-6-1) returns to action next Tuesday in Marietta where the Lady Cats will face Campbell and host Sprayberry.
TIGERS DROP TWO MATCHES
Adairsville volleyball dropped a pair of matches Tuesday night in Chickamauga falling to Oakwood Christian Academy 25-22, 25-21 and Ridgeland 25-19, 25-15.
In the loss to Oakwood Christian, Jordan Hartline and Jayna Wilson contributed seven blocks and three kills. Jenna Claire Hendley totaled six blocks, three service aces, and a pair of kills. Annie McCormick contributed two aces, two assists, and two digs. Richlyn Blair added three kills.
Against Ridgeland, Blair had four aces, four kills, and one dig. Hendley totaled six aces, two kills, and a dig. Wilson posted three kills and two blocks. Annie McCormick added twelve aces.
The Tigers return to action Thursday at Hiram.