Volleyball season in the books

Profile picture for user Travis Dockery

Profile picture for user Travis Dockery

By Travis Dockery on Thursday, January 14, 2021

JV Lady Jackets claim conference title

  • (Travis Dockery • Clay County Progress) The JV SMC championship Lady Jacket team is made up of, first row, from left, Jayden Moore, Gracie Perry and Lila Roberts. Second row, Addison Burch, Morgan Crawford and Lily Trout. Third row, Katie Pierce, Macie Parker, Broghan Krieger, Madison Martin and Trinity Frias.
    (Travis Dockery • Clay County Progress) The JV SMC championship Lady Jacket team is made up of, first row, from left, Jayden Moore, Gracie Perry and Lila Roberts. Second row, Addison Burch, Morgan Crawford and Lily Trout. Third row, Katie Pierce, Macie Parker, Broghan Krieger, Madison Martin and Trinity Frias.

    Hayesville High school has captured its first conference championship of the 2020- 2021 school year. The JV Lady Yellow Jacket volleyball team wasn’t in action in the final week of the season, but were able to use it as a time of celebration for their Smoky Mountain Conference championship win. “I’m so proud of these girls for all they overcame,” said head coach Tammy Dills. “From all the COVID regulations to on court battles, they did what they had to do and it paid off. The future is bright for our program, that is for sure.”

    Hayesville’s varsity team finished out their schedule last week with a home match against Rosman on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and a road contest on Thursday, Jan. 7 against Swain County.

    Defending their home court was the goal for the varsity Lady Yellow Jackets when Rosman invaded The Hive. After a ceremony honoring Hayesville’s seniors, play got underway and was intense from the opening serve. The two teams exchanged points through the first set with Rosman coming out the victor 26-24. Set two wasn’t as much a battle and the Lady Tigers took a 2-0 match lead with a 25-18 set win.

    Set three saw the Lady Jackets facing defeat, but home team refused to give in. Hayesville’s 25-20 win forced a fourth set. Unfortunately, the Lady Jackets could not hang on to the momentum and Rosman finished things off with a 25-16 win.

    Looking to end the season on a high note, Hayesville loaded up and headed to Bryson City to face the Lady Maroon Devils of Swain County High School. The Lady Jackets got off to a strong start with a 25-19 win in set one. Set two was a wild one with each team creating opportunities to score.

    It took bonus play, but Swain evened things up with a 26-24 win in the set. The momentum pendulum then took a big swing back to Hayesville’s side of the court with a 25-21 set-three win. In the fourth set, the Lady Jackets did everything they needed to do to end the match. Hayesville gave the Lady Devils no chance of forcing a fifth set.

    A 25-16 victory ended the set, match and season for the Lady Jackets. Due to changes made in the playoff format, just two teams from each conference qualified for the state playoffs. With Murphy and Rosman filling those two spots for the SMC, Hayesville will focus on the upcoming season.