MORRISTOWN, TN -- Walters State blasted visiting Cleveland State, 3-0, Thursday night in a preview of the Lady Senators' first round matchup in the Region Seven Tournament next week.
Coach Meagan Blaylock's team had no trouble in racking up its 21st victory of the season. The Lady Senators breezed to a 25-8 in the first set and then took the second set by 25-7. The third set was a little more competitive but Walters State closed with a 6-1 run for a 25-18 victory.
The Lady Senators, who have lost seven times, closed their Tennessee Community College Athletic Association season with a 7-1 league mark and are the top seed in the region which will be played on Friday and Saturday of next week. Thursday's win also clinched the TCCAA Regular Season Title, the first in conference history with five teams now in the conference.
Walters State closes its regular season on Monday night by playing host to Bryan's Junior Varsity on Sophomore night.
In Thursday's victory, Finley Surber had eight kills and scored three times on dinks to lead Walters State. Mattie Davis and Haylee Richardson added four kills each while Bailey Fair, Alyssa Campbell and Lauren Mims chipped in three each.
Richardson and Campbell blocked two shots each while Madyson Greenlee and Catherine Sweeney had two blocks apiece. Olivia Brown served a pair of aces while Jaci Drinnon, Maddie Rockrohr and Allison Singleton all had one.
The Lady Cougars couldn't get much going offensively with Jazlyn Butler's three kills leading the attack.
Coach Blaylock commented, "I think overall we played well. I thought we got a little bit complacent and let up a little bit in the third set.
"But I was glad that everybody got to play for us," she added. "It's kind of difficult to maintain your concentration in a match like that. It's hard to stay that engaged for the whole time."
Blaylock closed, "I hope it was good preparation for next week because we're going to see them again in the tournament. Tonight, I thought our defense looked really good."
The Lady Senators scored the first five points of the match as Brown served up a pair of aces. They pulled out to a 12-4 lead and then turned the set into a rout with a 9-1 run that upped the count to 18-5.
Davis had three kills and Campbell added a kill and a block before the set ended on a kill by Surber.
It was more of the same in the next set as Walters State scored the first seven. After the Lady Cougars scored, Surber nailed back-to-back kills and then had two more kills in a five-point spree that made it 14-2. Leading by 14-4, the home team unleashed a 7-1 run and the only question left was the final margin.
Walters State grabbed a quick 6-1 lead in the third set and led 9-3 when Cleveland suddenly started hitting the ball much better. The Lady Cougars battled back to within 11-8 but the home team scored two straight points.
The visitors then reeled off four straight points and eventually tied the count at 14-14 as a Walters State kill sailed long.
However, a dink by Surber put the Lady Senators in front for good and Cleveland had a kill go out of bounds.
A hitting error by Walters cut the deficit to 16-15, but Surber and Richardson put down kills and Singleton served an ace for a 19-15 margin.
The Lady Cougars scored two straight but Walters State closed on a 6-1 run with the only point for Cleveland coming on a net violation.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics