The Baylor volleyball team is on a roll right now.
Fresh off winning the Silver division in the Juanita Boodie Invitational in Hoover, Al. on Saturday where they posted their 1,000th victory in program history the Lady Red Raiders let that momentum carry over to Tuesday’s match with East Hamilton.
The Lady Hurricanes have a proud program of their own after finishing as the state runner-up in Class AA last fall. East Hamilton graduated some really good players, but they also have an outstanding group back, so Monday’s match was a serious test for both teams.
The match wasn’t as close as most had expected as Baylor won impressively in three sets, taking the win by scores of 25-16, 25-15 and 25-17.
Baylor improves to 9-3 while East Hamilton is now 4-2.
Baylor coach Sarah Lail brings as much energy and enthusiasm to her team as any volleyball coach around. She wants her team to demonstrate similar abilities when they compete and she’s a happy camper when that’s the case.
She had a big smile on her face following Tuesday’s match.
“I thought we did a good job offensively spreading our attack around, but that just shows our passing was also performing,” Lail said afterward.
“We have some new girls who have some talent, but they work hard every day and it’s a real blessing for me to be their coach. It’s still early in the season, but we’re continuing to build confidence.
“I’m really encouraged where we are this early in August, but we’re starting to come together. East Hamilton has an outstanding team with all the pieces, so we had to stay on top of our game today.
“Sydney Sharpe is just a sophomore and our new setter. She brings so much energy to our team as the sky is the limit for her. We’ve had some good ones in the past, but she has the potential to be right there with the best,” the coach praised.
East Hamilton coach Antonela Tomic Suzuki feels the same way about her team.
“Baylor is outstanding as always, but we want to play teams like them in August as that’s what makes us better. We lost a bunch of good girls from last year and this is a learning year for us, but we can be better than we were today,” she said shortly after the match ended.
“We still have some adjustments to make, but we set a high standard with our volleyball team. We just want to play the best we can and our goal is to get better every time we play, so I’m confident that we’ll get there,” she added with a smile.
Six straight service points from Morgan Sharpe gave Baylor a 7-1 lead in the first set, leading to East Hamilton’s first timeout.
An ace by Bailey Shahan extended the Lady Red Raider lead to 15-4 and East Hamilton’s second timeout, but nothing that was said during either break made much difference as Baylor was clicking on all cylinders from the start and making very few mistakes.
A kill by Elli Kinney provided set point for Baylor at 25-16.
Morgan Sharpe began the second set the same way as the first with three straight service points for a 4-1 lead.
The Lady Hurricanes, playing much better in the second set than the first, battled back and took a 9-8 lead on a kill from Hana Suzuki.
That momentum didn’t last long as Baylor regained control by scoring nine straight points, including eight on serves by Kinney.
A block by Alia Sherrow a minute later gave the second set to the girls in red.
The third set was the best of the three as the score was tied four times in the first 10 points.
A service error by East Hamilton gave Baylor an 11-10 lead and they proceeded to score the next five points, the last on a kill by Kinney.
A kill by Maggie Hansen gave Baylor the match.
Laila Ankar had 17 digs to pace East Hamilton while teammates Georgia Dobson, Julia Culpepper, Chelsie Snyder and Tristan Sutton also played well.
Dobson had six kills and 11 digs while Culpepper had six kills. Snyder recorded six blocks while Sutton finished with 10 assists and 11 digs.
Hansen had a dozen kills to lead Baylor in that category while Sydney Sharpe had an outstanding match with 27 assists, 11 digs, an ace and a kill.
Kinney finished with 13 digs, seven kills, three assists and four aces while Morgan Sharpe had 16 digs and a pair of aces.
Baylor returns to action on Thursday with a road trip to Chattanooga Christian while East Hamilton will be at home on Friday to host Dalton and Rhea County.
EAST HAMILTON STATS:
Laila Ankar – 17 digs
Hana Suzuki – 8 assists
Georgia Dobson – 6 kills, 11 digs
Julia Culpepper – 6 kills
Saylor Clark – 4 digs, 4 blocks
Chelsie Snyder -- 6 blocks
Tristan Sutton – 10 assists, 11 digs
Savannah Hughes – 3 blocks
Gabi Repko – 3 digs.
BAYLOR STATS:
Morgan Sharpe – 2 aces, 16 digs
Franny Brooksbank – 1 ace, 5 digs
Addie Margio – 4 kills, 3 digs, 1 block
Bailey Shahan – 3 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs
Maggie Hansen – 12 kills, 1 dig
Sydney Sharpe – 1 kill, 27 assists, 1 ace, 11 digs
Elli Kinney – 7 kills, 3 assists, 4 aces, 13 digs
Alia Sherrow – 5 kills
Kaylee Snyder – 10 digs.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)