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Lady Devils Izzy Walker (from left), Kennedy Anthony, Rylee Rawls and Carley Teesateskie watch the ball descend at the game Thursday, Sept. 21, in which they beat the Robbinsville Black Knights.
Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
After a 0-3 loss against the Franklin Panthers on Monday, Sept. 18, the Lady Devils volleyball team rebounded with a 3-1 win against the Robbinsville Black Knights on Thursday, Sept. 21.
The game was a tense one as both teams fiercely competed, both gaining the lead multiple times over four rounds.
In addition, the Lady Devils had something to prove. Although the team has done well this season, they’ve been losing their conference matches thus far, while Robbinsville had 4-0 in the SMC until this game.
Both teams played hard, getting right up nose-to-nose at the net with opponents, spiking the ball with force over the net and sometimes taking falls as they failed to lunge for the ball. When the Lady Devils scored, cheers echoed off the floors and walls of the Swain County High gym.
The Lady Devils won the first two rounds 25-23 and then 25-20 respectively, but the Black Knights managed to eke out a win in the third round, getting 25-22 over the Lady Devils.
Going into the fourth quarter, anticipation was high and the two teams were yet again pretty evenly matched, but the Lady Devils won out 25-21, ending the game.
The back row was essential to the Devils’ win, with Libero Izzy Walker, Faith Woodard, Addisyn Jenkins and Kennedy Anthony did well all night, with Anthony getting in 12 digs, Walker and Jenkins both getting eight and Woodard getting seven.
The Lady Devils got an 87.5% service percentage, with Anthony getting four aces and Kaley Parker and Woodard getting two each.
Gracie Sutton got 15 kills at the net, leading the Devils through the night, while Anthony was right behind her with 12.
Meanwhile, Sutton and Carley Teesateskie got five and four blocks respectively.
As the game was ending, coach Lydia Sale said she was happy with the result.
“It’s unreal,” she said. “Everything they’ve been working for is starting to pay off.”
The Lady Devils had another away game Monday, Sept. 25 against the Hiwassee Dam Eagles, which they won 3-0. It was a nonconference game.
Then they played an away conference game Tuesday, Sept. 26 against the Andrews Wildcats, which gave them another 3-0 win.
The first set in Tuesday’s game saw the Devils winning 25 to 17 over the Wildcats, then a closer second set saw them winning 25 to 23. The third and final set cinched the Devils the win as they triumphed 25 to 18 overall.
As of Tuesday’s game, the Lady Devils have gotten 155 kills, 17 total blocks, 66 serving aces, 187 digs, 142 assists, and 190 receptions so far this season, with Gracie Sutton leading in three categories – she’s gotten 43 kills, 11 total blocks and 16 serving aces.
The Devils are 13-4 overall this season, and they’re 2-3 for conference games thus far.
Their next game is a home game tonight, Thursday, Sept. 28, against Hayesville.