CLEVELAND, Tenn. — A tight start turned into a cross-county volleyball sweep for Bradley Central, blanking Walker Valley Thursday evening, at Jim Smiddy Arena.
"We just got out starting middle (6-foot-1 Addi Staton) back after she missed the first two matches due to a death in the family, so this was our third different rotation in as many matches," related 31-year coaching veteran Christie McElhaney after her Bearettes improved to 3-0 on the new season, stopping winless Walker Valley 25-21, 25-17, 25-19.
"It took them a little bit to get back in rhythm with each other, but they were able to work it out.
We have a few problems here and there, but they were able to focus and take care of what we needed to do."
Coming off a hard-fought five-set loss to Ooltewah Tuesday evening and a 3-1 outcome against GPS Monday, Walker Valley came out strong Thursday putting five of the first half dozen points on the scoreboard.
Bradley cut the difference to a single point behind a pair of kills by senior Addison Stuman, plus and ace from Sadie Gallaher.
The Lady Mustangs regained the serve on freshman Sophia Davis' second spike by and were able to push back up by an 8-4 margin.
The hosts were able to even the score with four straight points before the teams evenly traded the next 16 points.
Getting her first action of the young campaign, Staton broke the 16-all tie with a kill for the only lead change of the night.
With Stuman stepping behind the back line, she delivered a couple of aces in six straight winners.
The Lady Mustangs answered with back-to-back aces by Madeline McBrayer in a 4-0 spurt to close the gap back to just two points.
After the teams traded points, Bradley got the serve back on a tip kill by Tabitha Eaves pushing it to set point and Wyatt Powell sealed the victory with an ace.
The Bearettes led the rest of the evening, although Walker Valley kept it close at the start of both final sets.
Bradley scored the first three points of the second set, with Eaves drilling a couple of spikes by Eaves and an ace from Lilly Winters.
The Lady Mustangs were able to answer and kept within striking distance until it 10-8 difference.
Bradley got a little breathing room with a four-point spurt that included a Winters ace, a block by Stuman and a tip kill for Claudia Boyd, off a Winters set.
The hosts posted eight of the next dozen points to push the lead to double digits, but the Herd wasn't ready to surrender, posting 5-2 streak before long serve on set point gave the Bearettes another win.
After the teams traded the first half dozen points of the final set, Bradley once again took control with a 6-1 run.
The hosts maintained their stretched their edge to as much as eight and nine points the rest of the way before closing the sweep on a Lady Mustang serve into the net.
Stanton and senior Libby Stewart both finished with eight kills, while Stuman and Eaves notched seven apiece. Ma'Ryah Greenwood helped out with a trio of slams.
Stuman handed out eight assists, while Winters had seven helps and Elisea Messer five for the Bearettes.
Bradley fired 11 aces with Stuman collecting five, Sadie Gallaher three and Winters two.
Stuman also led the victors with eight digs, Powell and Stewart seven apiece, while Winters had a half dozen.
Boyd had a block and a pair of block assists, while Stuman was in on a couple of stuffs.
For Walker Valley, Davis blasted 11 spikes and five digs, with Madeline McBrayer blasting half dozen kills and a trio of aces.
Journey Rollo helped out with four slams and a block, while Isabella Hill downed three spikes.
Julia Scarbrough handed out nine "dimes," Avery Collins dished out six assists, Caileigh Collins five and Izzy Cook four.
Madison McClung helped out with seven digs and a pair of aces, while Caileigh Collins dug out nine shots and Scarbrough a half dozen.
"I was really proud of my girls," remarked second-year Lady Mustang head coach Abby Stroh." They came in really executed from the start. Our defense was on fire and our servers were doing it.
"We are missing a couple of varsity girls due to sickness and to see the other step up like they did made me proud.
"Right now we have just a young team and we've got to work through some things and I'm excited to see where we get to by the end of the season," she added.
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