Baylor Impressive In Volleyball Sweep Of Signal Mountain

Lady Red Raiders Now 35-6 Following Senior Night Victory

  • Monday, September 29, 2014
  • John Hunt

Baylor coach Sarah Lail paused briefly before saying that she's seen her Lady Red Raider volleyball team play better than they did on Monday, but they did just about everything right as they celebrated Senior Night with an impressive 3-0 victory over the Signal Mountain Lady Eagles.

It was a meeting of two of the top three teams in Chattanooga -- too bad that Ooltewah couldn't have been there for a bang-bang three-way match -- and it was the second time this season that Baylor had won in a sweep over Signal Mountain.

Baylor was almost flawless in the first set as they recorded have of their 10 aces for the match during that set as they cruised to a 25-9 win.  The Lady Eagles never quit as they came back stronger than ever, but for whatever the reason, Baylor had the answer for every tough question as they won the next two by scores of 25-21 and 25-22.

"We were all excited to be able to honor our seniors and it was nice to play well for them," Lail said after her team had improved to 35-6 following a pre-match ceremony to honor seniors Cassie Elrod and Lexy Hellerstedt.

"I always stress how important it is for us go get a strong start and establish momentum early and that was the case today.  We were behind in both of the last two sets, but we just had to focus on scoring one point at a time and it all worked out.

"It's always nice to get a win against a quality opponent like Signal Mountain.  I think we've played better at times, but I thought we looked good tonight," she concluded with a smile.

Signal Mountain coach Jennifer Redman didn't see much good in that first set, but she was certainly pleased with the way her team battled in the next two.

"We competed with them and I'm thrilled about that.  We got embarrassed in that first set and I told our girls that it could be a really short match or we could get off the deck and play.  I'm proud that we were able to make it a closer match.

"We didn't win today, but I'm proud of our effort," she said after her team had fallen to 30-6 for the season.

Baylor never trailed in the first set. 

Haven Bethune recorded a pair of aces as Baylor scored the first three points.  The lead was 11-7 before southpaw server Sarah Sumida went to the line and recorded seven straight points as the Lady Raiders broke the set open at that juncture.

Lilly Turner had five straight service points late as Baylor won that first set going away, getting the winning point on a kill from Gabby Gray.

The Lady Eagles were a totally different team the rest of the way and even had Baylor down on several occasions.

The biggest lead in the second set was 16-10, but Baylor slowly but surely chipped away before knotting the score at 17 following back-to-back kills from Bethune.

A hitting error gave Baylor its first lead since the beginning.  A kill from Taelor Kellum allowed the Lady Eagles to get within 23-21, but a service error made it 24-21 before a kill from Ashleigh Cook secured the win.

The third set was the best of all as the biggest lead for either team was five points and that was to Baylor's advantage at 12-7 following three straight aces by Gray.

 The difference was 23-19 following a kill by Baylor's Jane Wilson, but the Lady Eagles kept battling and drew to within one at 23-22 before the Lady Raiders ended the match on back-to-back kills by Bethune and Cook.

Bethune was a difference maker for Baylor with 11 kills and 14 assists, in addition to six digs, three aces and two blocks.  Sumida finished with 19 assists while Turner had 15 digs.  Gray was her usual consistent self with nine kills and eight digs.

Kellum topped Signal Mountain with 11 kills and 11 digs while Aryn Sanders had 22 digs and Amanda Thielges contributed 14 assists.

HIXSON IMPROVED TO 20-19 with a 3-1 victory over Sale Creek on the Lady Panthers court.  Sale Creek won the first set by 25-18 before Hixson won three straight by scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-22.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN STATS:

Aryn Sanders -- 22 digs

Kennady Collick -- 1 kill, 6 digs

Aubrie Johnson 5 kills, 2 digs, 1 block

Taelor Kellum -- 11 kills, 11 digs, 2 aces, 3 blocks

Kenzie Lewis -- 4 digs

Hallie Hunt -- 9 digs

Amanda Thielges -- 4 digs, 1 ace, 14 assists

Natalie Greve -- 2 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace.

BAYLOR STATS:

Jane Wilson -- 7 kills, 2 blocks

Haven Bethune -- 3 aces, 11 kills, 2 blocks, 14 assists, 6 digs

Cassie Elrod -- 1 ace, 6 digs

Lilly Turner -- 2 aces, 15 digs

Sarah Sumida -- 1 ace, 19 assists, 5 digs

Gabby Gray -- 3 aces, 9 kills, 8 digs

Ashleigh Cook -- 3 kills, 1 dig

Lexy Hellerstedt -- 7 kills, 1 dig

Abby Hubert -- 1 kill.

HIXSON STATS:

Paige Lawson -- 4 aces, 14 kills, 3 blocks, 14 digs

Abby Tipton -- 2 kills, 22 digs

TayTay Staten -- 11 kills, 5 blocks

Courtney Jones -- 1 ace, 4 kills, 1 block, 5 digs

Bailey Burba -- 1 ace, 3 kills, 11 digs, 26 assists

Sam Dove -- 3 aces, 7 kills, 12 digs, 1 assist

Morghan White -- 1 ace, 15 digs

Haleigh Raber -- 7 digs.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net

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