It’s been a long volleyball season for the Chattanooga Christian Lady Chargers, but they’re starting to play better when it counts the most.
The latest win for the Lady Chargers took place at the Silverdale Place Monday evening, but the biggest winner was the MaryEllen Locher Foundation as it was a Pink Out match where money was raised to benefit the breast cancer organization that has made great strides in recent years.
CCS won the opening set by a tight 25-22 margin before Silverdale evened the score with a 25-14 win in the second set. The Lady Seahawks appeared to be more serious about celebrating that win than worrying about the third set and their play showed as CCS won convincingly by a 25-12 final.
CCS coach Brittney Berube is just happy to see that things are starting to click for her team and that all of that hard work is beginning to pay off.
“Silverdale is a really strong team, so we tried some different rotations to see what worked best. I think we’re starting to click and the encouragement from these girls for each other has been wonderful,” she said shortly after the match ended.
“We’re starting to have fun, but it’s amazing how well we can play when we don’t worry about who will get the credit. I wish we could re-do the second set, but we’ve been working on mental toughness and it’s starting to pay off. I think we’re beginning to peak at the right time,” she added.
Silverdale coach Renae Marcus liked the effort she got from her team, but she also recognized just who the biggest winner was in this match.
“The Pink Out factor was bigger than anything else as life is more important than any volleyball match, but we’re just trying to teach these young ladies that you have to battle in life, regardless of the opponent,” Marcus began.
“I want them to learn how to fight for what is important and they’re doing that. We always try to get a good team for a match like this and I liked the tenacity we showed today. I thought we held our own for the most part.
“I liked how we served in the second set and I know we can play better as a team, but we just have to learn how to put it all together for a full match,” she added.
The first set was by far the best of the three.
Back-to-back aces from Aubrey Holloway allowed the Lady Chargers to take an 8-5 lead after a 5-5 tie and they never trailed again.
Marcus called timeouts when her team trailed 20-16 and again at 23-18, but a kill from Cadie Weldon was the winning shot in the first set for the Lady Chargers.
A Silverdale hitting error on the first point of the second set allowed CCS to grab the early lead, but an ace by Kelsie Johnson switched the lead to Silverdale’s side and the Lady Chargers never regained the advantage.
Seven straight service points by Ashlee Kugler, including four of her seven aces, allowed the Lady Seahawks to extend a 9-5 lead to 16-5 and it never got much closer. A CCS hitting error allowed Silverdale to knot the score at one set apiece.
The third set was tied at 1-1 and 2-2, but a kill from Kennedy Barber gave CCS the lead at 3-2 and the difference only grew the rest of the way.
Clara Sims recorded the final five service points for the Lady Chargers, including her third ace to end it.
Avery Ray had eight kills to lead CCS while Holloway was credited with 13 digs. Jenna Calhoun was tops with 17 assists while Isabelle Porter set the pace at the net with seven blocks.
Maddie Pereira had nine kills and 10 digs to lead Silverdale, now 10-12 for the season.
Casey Neal had 16 digs while Kugler had 20 assists and four aces in addition to 10 digs.
CCS will be at home on Tuesday to face Knoxville Webb while Silverdale will play at Grace on Tuesday.
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN STATS:
Kennedy Barber – 3 kills, 3 digs, 6 assists, 4 blocks
Hannah Blevins – 13 digs, 1 ace
Amelia Bustamante – 7 kills, 7 digs, 1 block
Jenna Calhoun – 2 digs, 17 assists, 4 aces
Aubrey Holloway – 13 digs, 1 assist, 3 aces
Isabelle Porter – 4 kills, 3 digs, 7 blocks
Avery Ray – 8 kills, 3 digs, 1 block
Clara Sims – 4 digs, 3 aces
Ella Van Meter – 1 kill, 1 block
Cadie Weldon – 2 kills, 4 blocks.
SILVERDALE STATS:
Shelby Evans – 4 kills, 1 block, 1 ace, 2 digs
Kelsie Johnson – 3 kills, .5 block, 3 aces, 4 digs
Ashlee Kugler – 1 kill, 20 assists, .5 block, 4 aces, 10 digs
Melanie Marcus – 3 kills, 1.5 blocks, 1 dig
Casey Neal – 2 assists, 2 aces, 16 digs
Maddie Pereira – 9 kills, .5 block, 10 digs.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)