By Cannon Crompton and J.R. Carroll
Cherokee Scout
Cherokee – Both the Murphy and Andrews varsity volleyball teams lost in the first round of the Smoky Mountain Conference volleyball tournament.
Murphy was ranked No. 5 , while Andrews was ranked No. 6, heading into the conference tournament on Oct. 15, when they played their first-round matches. Murphy took on No. 4-ranked Robbinsville, while Andrews faced No. 3 Swain County.
The Lady Dogs faced a tough Robbinsville (16-8) team that came into the game with a 2-0 record against Murphy in their two previous meetings.
Robbinsville had won the previous two matches 3-0, and this match was no different.
Robbinsville dropped the Lady Dogs in three straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-17 and 25-22. The loss eliminated the Lady Dogs from the tournament.
Just after the Lady Dogs game was played, Andrews took on Swain. Swain got out to an early lead and didn’t look back, as the Lady Maroon Devils won 3-0 to advance in the tournament.
Swain got out to an early lead, with the Lady Wildcats just a step behind. That was the way it stayed throughout the entirety of the first set before the Lady Maroon Devils pulled away late to win 25-17.
The second set started close, with both teams neck and neck. However, after the teams tied at seven points each, Swain took control and pulled away to win 25-14.
By the time the third set started, Swain was full steam ahead, and the Lady Wildcats couldn’t catch them. The Lady Maroon Devils won the third set 25-8 to win the match 3-0 to advance in the conference tournament.
Against Swain, freshman Juliet Holloway led the team in aces with three. Holloway also had three kills and two digs.
Senior Kylie Donaldson led the team in kills with eight, and also had one block assist and three digs. Beth Shook led the team with three block assists, and also had three digs and a kill.
Kaiya Ellis had two kills, nine assists, six digs and one block assist. Chanteah Rattler also had one block assist, as well as one dig and one assist.
Mady Queen had one kill and four digs, Caitlynn Thompson had four digs, Lauren White three and Allie Gibson one.
Swain went on to defeat Hayesville 3-1 on Thursday, then they lost to Cherokee as the Lady Braves were crowned SMC champions.
In the state tournament, Murphy is ranked No. 22 and will travel to Hiwassee Dam after the Cherokee Scout’s press time Tuesday. Andrews is ranked No. 29 and will face No. 4 ranked Uwharrie Charter on Tuesday.
Conference update
Cherokee secured the No. 1 seed in 1A West by winning the conference tournament. They will host No. 32 South Davidson in the first round.
Hayesville is the No. 12 seed and will host No. 21 seed Mountain Island Charter.
Swain County is the No. 13 seed and will host No. 20 seed Alleghany.
Robbinsville is the No. 14 seed in the tournament and will host No. 19 ranked Rosman.
Murphy and Andrews are the only two Smoky Mountain Conference teams who will travel for their first-round matchups.
In the Little Smoky Mountain Conference, Highlands is the No. 30 seed and will travel to take on No. 3 seeded Polk County.
Blue Ridge Early College and Nantahala, who chose to forfeit the remainder of their matches due to not having enough players, are the only two teams in the Little Smoky Mountain Conference to miss the playoffs. No team in the Smoky Mountain Conference missed the playoffs.
The second-round matches are Thursday, followed by the third round Saturday.