By Gary Corsair
Sports Writer
This year’s volleyball season was one of the greatest in Hayesville High history — and that’s saying something considering that the Yellow Jackets won 86 matches in a four-year period (2015-’18).
The 2016 team that went 24-1, won the Smoky Mountain Conference and advanced to the Elite Eight is the benchmark all Yellow Jackets teams are measured by, but this year’s squad was truly something special.
Tammy Dills’ latest teams established school records for wins. The varsity rolled to a 26-5 record — four losses were to Cherokee, which won the
conference crown with a 12-0 mark — while the JV finished 21-1, claimed the SMC title and won the conference tourney.
Pretty impressive considering that six seniors graduated from last year’s varsity that went 16-7 overall and 8-2 in the conference.
“Both teams had a great season. We just reloaded and went at it again,” Dills remarked. “We work hard to represent Hayesville High School athletics.”
The reloaded Jackets unloaded on nearly everyone after losing the opening match against always tough Franklin — 15-25, 22-25, 17-25.
If you didn’t see Hayesville play volleyball, you missed something special.
“We had a good fan base,” Dills stated. “I encourage more to come out. We are exciting to watch.”
Cherokee was the only other foe to beat Hayesville and the Lady Yellow Jackets fought valiantly in all four skirmishes with the Lady Braves.
The Sept. 26 clash between the two SMC powerhouses was one for the ages. Hayesville took the second set and pushed Cherokee to the limit — 21-25, 25-23, 14-25, 24-26.
Another highlight came when Hayesville went undefeated and won the North Henderson Pink Out Tournament, which featured 3A, 4A and 5A schools.
The final meeting between the Lady Braves and the Lady Jackets came in the playoffs, where Cherokee again prevailed.
“It was our misfortune that we had to travel to Cherokee for the Sweet 16. It always seems like SMC schools knock each other out. Our conference is always strong.”
Through thick and thin, the Black-and-Gold displayed resilience and camaraderie.
“It was a fun group to coach,” Dills said. “They are family-oriented and got along well. They were fun.”
They were also extremely talented.
Setter Savannah Burch and outside hitters Ava Shook, Graesyn Williamson were named to the All-Region 8 Team by the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association.
Cherokee and Franklin were the only other schools to place three players on the Region 8 squad.
Burch, who recorded 33 aces, 216 digs and 912 assists — to raise her career total to nearly 1,800 — was also named SMC Specialist of the Year.
Shook’s 346 kills, 231 digs, 49 aces also landed her on the SMC All-Conference Team.
Williamson, who had 328 kills and 101 digs, was also named SMC All-Conference.
Olivia Giddens also received All-Conference honors for scoring 257 kills and totaling 56 blocks.
Aaliyah Jackson, 32 aces, 142 digs, and Reese Segards, 60 aces, 516 digs, were All-SMC honorable mention.
Most of those standouts will be back on the court next year. They’ll be shooting for another 20-plus win season, revenge on Cherokee and getting beyond the Sweet 16.
“Several players play travel volleyball and that helps. The girls will be working on their individual games, some will go to camp and we’ll get back in the gym in July,” Dills said.
The aforementioned Lady Jackets were joined on varsity by Danielle Anderson, Kayla Brown, Jasmine Brooks, Lilly Dockery, Kylah Eller, Micalynn McClure, Kadence Morrow,and Charlotte Pullum. All contributed to the varsity’s outstanding success.