Murphy – Lady Bulldogs head coach Jordan Lovingood said senior Torin Rogers is a big-game player. With Murphy welcoming undefeated Robbinsville on Sept 15, it didn’t take a lot for Rogers to get for a rivalry that spans across multiple Smoky Mountain Conference sports.
“I’m always ready to go against Robbinsville,” Rogers said. “There’s just something special about those games.”
The Lady Knights had no answer for the 6 foot-1 inch middle hitter, who helped the Lady Bulldogs hand Robbinsville its first loss of the season 25-18, 25-20, 25-19. Rogers had 15 kills and was a menace around the net, giving Murphy a distinct blocking advantage.
“Torin’s just special,” Lovingood said. “She shows up for big games.”
From the first points of the match, it was clear Rogers would rise to the occasion. She had Murphy’s first two kills, and anytime she put a good swing on the ball, the Lady Knights were virtually powerless to stop it. Rogers and junior outside hitter Olivia Payne did their jobs, as did sophomore middle hitter Maddison Seabolt.
While hitters usually get the glory, the Lady Bulldogs wouldn’t have been in that position without sturdy defense from the back row, led by senior libero Cailey Dockery, and good passes from senior setter Amber Martin. Murphy sometimes struggles with that, but against Robbinsville was able to keep things under control.
“The communication is the biggest part in the chemistry between the back row,” Dockery said. “So we know that no ball is going to hit the floor without an effort. It’s definitely just a lot of talking to each other to make sure we’re getting every point.”
Robbinsville jumped out an early lead in all three sets, but the Lady Bulldogs took control every time. The Lady Knights led 11-8 in the first set before Murphy scored four points, including two Rogers kills to take the lead. Robbinsville struggled to finish the first set and the Lady Bulldogs took advantage, winning it 25-18.
The second set was a little closer. After Robbinsville jumped out to a 6-1 lead, Murphy scored three straight and neither team led by more than two until a 5-0 Lady Bulldogs’ run gave them a 21-16 lead. Rogers had three kills in the run, including a tip that dropped in between the Lady Knights’ front and back rows. Robbinsville hung tough before a Payne kill gave Murphy a 25-20 win in the second set.
The Lady Knights led 7-5 in the second set before Rogers went on her most emphatic run. She had two straight solo blocks, then hammered home a kill. After the kill, Rogers emphatically leaped into the post-point huddle, bouncing off her teammates.
The two teams went back and forth after that, before Murphy once again went on the deciding run that would tip the set in its favor. Trailing 15-13, Payne had a kill and an ace, then Seabolt kill gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead.
The Lady Knights committed an attack error, then Riley Dockery tipped two balls over the net that both landed on the Robbinsville side. That gave Murphy enough breathing room to take the final set, 25-19.
The Lady Bulldogs faced Tallulah Falls on Monday night, results of which were not available until after the Cherokee Scout went to press. They face Highlands on Thursday.
“I told them in the locker room it’s a great win,” Lovingood said. “But you can’t be satisfied with it, as it’s early in the season. We’re going to take it, we’re going to enjoy it, but we’re going to keep working next week.”