WCMessenger.com: Decatur wins district opener

WCMessenger.com Sports: Volleyball Headlines

Decatur wins district opener

By Phil Major | Published Thursday, October 1, 2009

Decatur opened district volleyball Saturday with a four-game win over Vernon.

Coach Claire Rose said the visiting Lady Lions played very hard and played great defense, not letting a lot of balls hit the floor.

That challenged the Lady Eagle hitters to move the ball around, especially after Vernon came back to win the second game.

Decatur broke on top handily 25-12, but Vernon charged back to take it 25-16 and even the match.

Rose said it was good for Decatur to make adjustments during the match, and that's what happened going into the third game.

Decatur blitzed through the third game to take control of the match, 25-10.

"Vernon never scored a positive point in game three, which is always a goal for our team," Rose said. "The only points they got in game three were side-out points."

Decatur then finished off the match 25-12.

Rose said the Lady Eagles did some good things, and it was a good start to district. But they also allowed too many free balls and had a lack of fire in the second game.

Sara Oxford gave the Lady Eagles a boost with 20 kills and also stopped nine Vernon shots at the net. Annelise Carpenter also blocked nine and slammed two kills. Fleming Smurthwaite killed seven shots and blocked four. Ingrid Boatman and Kortney Tompkins each had five kills and Kortni Robinson three. Boatman stopped five shots, Robinson four and Tompkins two.

Carmen Cash served four aces, Smurthwaite three and Tompkins two.

Tompkins dug out nine shots, Cash eight, Lynzee Jordan five, Joey Redwine four, Smurthwaite and Oxford three each, and Boatman and Claribel Trejo two each.

Smurthwaite had 36 assists.