Lady Knights top Hume in three sets
In a hard-fought three set match Tuesday night in Walker, the Northeast Vernon County Lady Knights defeated the Hume Lady Hornets to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Lady Knights came out strong, taking the first set 25-18. Hume then bounced back for a wild 27-25 second set victory. NEVC regained its strong form in the third and decisive set, stinging the Lady Hornets by an identical first set score of 25-18.
“(NEVC) proved tonight that even on an off night (we) are going to fight for the win,” said an elated Lady Knights head coach, Erica Mott.
For NEVC, junior outside hitter Mackinsey Conner tied for a game-high with eight aces, while Kelly Dade spiked home four kills.
“The team has focused on the fundamentals and improving skills that are going to help us win tough games such as this one,” said Mott, with the victory improving her squad to 2-0 in the Golden Valley Vernon County Conference.
Mott continued: “A goal we have set this year has been to hit the ball more, and tonight the girls really focused on that. As a team, we had 55 hits. When it came to tough moments in all three sets the girls relaxed and made smart choices, which in turn helped us achieve the win.”
The GVVC loss brings the Lady Hornets record to 2-7 overall and 2-1 in GVVC-play.
“Despite the loss tonight, I saw a lot of really good things on the court,” said first-year Lady Hornets head coach, Jackie Harter. “We served very aggressively, but we need to work on having less errors while staying aggressive.”
For Hume, senior Karlee Metcalf matched Conner’s total with eight aces to go along with 14 digs, while fellow senior Hannah Swickhamer finished with four kills and three aces. Hume front row players Emmah Fillpot and Hannah Gorda combined for nine kills, with Gorda chipping in a block.
Lady Hornets sophomore Deborah Yarick had a big night, leading all players with 23 digs, while Malia McFrederick added eight. Hume’s team totals, included 48 digs, 18 kills, 15 aces and 15 assists.
“The girls did a really good job of swinging more, which shows in the number of attempts and kills we had — but also in the number of errors,” noted Harter. “We are really going to focus on talking and not committing as many unforced errors the rest of the week at practice.”
Up next
The Lady Knights return to the court Sept. 15, for a non-conference home match with Calhoun, while Hume matched up with Lakeland Thursday night at home.