There’s nothing quite like facing a defending state champion when you begin your career as a high school volleyball coach, but that was exactly the case at Soddy Daisy Tuesday evening as the Lady Trojans were at home to face the defending D-II champion Baylor Red Raiders.
It was an experience first-year Soddy Daisy coach Libby Peigen might remember for a while, but it’s probably one that she would just as soon forget.
It took less than an hour for the entire match to be played as Baylor rolled to a 3-0 victory, winning by scores of 25-16, 25-8 and 25-5.
Baylor coach Sarah Lail was all smiles as she got ready to leave the gym.
“I’m pleased,” she said in the biggest understatement of the season shortly after her post-match meeting with her team had ended.
“We executed really well as our passing allowed us to get the ball to our hitters and they finished the job. Right now, we’re still trying to focus on team chemistry and trying to see which combination works best, but every player on this team has a job.
“I’m also happy that we had a chance to let some of our younger and less experienced players get in because they’ll be needed later in the season and it was good to get them some playing time. But I liked what I saw,” Lail concluded.
Soddy Daisy’s Peigen has a young team with only three seniors after six young ladies graduated from last year’s squad.
The Lady Trojans played with a lot of heart at the beginning, but Baylor took the wind out of their sails as the match progressed and the Lady Raiders took command.
“There’s no question that Baylor has a great team, maybe the best we’ll see all year, but they came ready to play,” the 23-year-old Peigen expressed as the gym continued to clear.
“We played so hard in that first set, but we lost confidence after that as we stopped having the grit we needed to win. We passed well in spots and we hustled after a lot of balls, but my girls were really nervous.
“Gabby Gray is really an outstanding player and she took us out of our flow, but I’ve waited a long time for this day to arrive and this job is a dream come true for me. Hopefully we’ll play better the next time you see us,” the 2014 Lee University graduated concluded with a smile.
A kill from Ashleigh Cook got Baylor on the board in the first set, but back-to-back kills from Rachel Rader allowed Soddy Daisy to take the lead at 2-1.
Consecutive aces from Cameren Swafford extended the Lady Trojan lead to 5-2 and the difference was 6-4 following a block from Gracie Ratledge.
That’s when Gray stepped to the service line and recorded five straight points for a 10-6 difference and the Baylor girls never trailed again.
A kill from Lilly Turner wrapped up the first set for the Lady Red Raiders.
The second and third sets weren’t nearly as competitive as Baylor started clicking and Soddy Daisy simply didn’t have an answer.
Gray had eight straight service points at one stretch as an 8-4 lead stretched to 16-4. The biggest lead came on the final point as an ace by Haven Bethune ended it at 25-8.
While the edge was clearly on Baylor’s side at this point, the third set allowed several Baylor freshmen to see considerable action and to contribute in a positive way.
Abby McNamara had six-straight service points as a 10-2 lead was quickly 16-2 while Elizabeth Case was also impressive recording three aces in five straight points near the end.
A block from Eva Whaley ended the match.
Gray had nine kills to lead the Baylor attack while Sumida had 18 assists. Bethune and Turner both were credited with five digs.
Rader had five kills to lead Soddy Daisy while Gracie Ratledge had four blocks. Kyleigh Ward and Kirstie Williams both finished with four assists.
Baylor returns to action on Wednesday as they host Central and Notre Dame while Soddy Daisy’s next match isn’t until next Tuesday when they host McMinn County. The Lady Trojans then travel to East Hamilton on the following Thursday.
BAYLOR STATS:
Haven Bethune – 2 aces, 7 kills, 1 block, 8 assists, 5 digs;
Ashleigh Cook – 3 aces, 3 kills, 3 digs;
Jane Wilson – 2 kills, 3 blocks;
Gabby Gray – 2 aces, 9 kills, 1 block, 4 digs;
Lilly Turner – 1 ace, 2 kills, 2 assists, 5 digs;
Sarah Sumida – 1 kill, 18 assists, 5 digs;
Eva Whaley – 1 kill, 1 block;
Ally Craig – 2 aces, 4 kills, 3 digs;
Denver Rogers – 1 dig;
Elizabeth Case – 4 aces, 1 dig.
SODDY DAISY STATS:
Kyleigh Ward – 4 assists;
Kirstie Williams – 4 assists;
Rachel Rader – 5 kills;
Alex Volker – 3 kills, 1 ace, 1 assist;
Gracie Ratledge – 4 blocks;
Cameren Swafford – 1 ace.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)