Andrews – The Andrews varsity volleyball team wrapped up the regular season last week with 3-0 losses to Hayesville and Swain County.
The Lady Wildcats (5-13) hosted their final regular season game against Hayesville – which was also Senior Night – on Oct. 8. Prior to the game, Andrews honored seniors Kylie Donaldson, Beth Shook, Allie Gibson and Caitlynn Thompson.
Hayesville (15-5) started the match with six straight points before Andrews called an early timeout. Hayesville got the lead and held throughout the first set, where the Lady Yellow Jackets’ size and strength were apparent.
Hayesville was in control en route to a 25-7 first-set win. Andrews fought back in the second set, scoring four straight points off the bat to take an early lead, but Hayesville climbed back to tie it. The Jackets took the lead late to win the second set 25-20.
The Lady Cats got out to an early lead with seven straight points before Hayesville scored. Hayesville then closed the gap to tie it at 12. Once Hayesville got the lead, they pulled away, taking the set 25-15 to win the match 3-0.
“We started out slow, but being the last game for the seniors at home, they turned it around second and third set and they played better,” Lady Cats head coach Shanna Mustin said.
“We just couldn’t get a whole lot of offense going against their tall girls. We laid our hearts out there and played the best we could.”
Mustin spoke on the four seniors on the team, saying, “I love them to death, and they all give 150% all the time.”
Later in the week, Andrews headed to Swain County to take on the Lady Maroon Devils (16-5) for their final regular-season match Thursday.
The Lady Devils won the first set 25-17. Swain took an early lead in the second set and didn’t look back en route to winning 25-8. Swain then cruised to win the third set 25-11 and take the match 3-0.
Against Swain, Juliet Holloway and Kaiya Ellis led the team with two aces each. Holloway had three kills and seven digs, while Ellis added one kill, 10 assists and eight digs.
Kylie Donaldson had team-leading four kills, as well as one ace and five digs. Beth Shook had three kills, six digs and one block. Chanteah Rattler had one ace, one kill, six digs and three assists.
Mady Queen had three kills and three digs. Lauren White had one assist and one dig. Caitlynn Thompson had one dig.
This week, the Smoky Mountain Conference teams will head to Cherokee for the conference tournament before the state tournament kicks off next week. Seeding for the state tournament will be announced Sunday afternoon.
At press time, the Lady Wildcats are ranked No. 30 in the official rankings.