Andrews – The Andrews varsity volleyball team played their first two Smoky Mountain Conference games of the season this week, losing to Cherokee and Robbinsville.
To kick off their conference games, the Lady Wildcats (2-4) headed to Cherokee on Aug. 27 to take on the Lady Braves (7-1) and lost 3-0.
In the first set, the Lady Braves controlled the set en route to a 25-7 win. In the second set, the Lady Braves won again 25-10. Then in the third set, the score duplicated the first set with the Lady Braves winning 25-7, which gave them the 3-0 win.
On Thursday, the Lady Cats hosted the Robbinsville Lady Knights (7-1) for their second conference game and lost 3-0.
Both teams battled through the first set. Robbinsville led the majority of the set, with Andrews right behind them. The Lady Black Knights had strong kills that helped them win the first set 25-17.
In the second set, Andrews got out to an early lead with six consecutive points before Robbinsville scored on a serving fault. Robbinsville battled back and tied the game at eight.
The height difference between the teams became more apparent in the second set, as the Lady Black Knight won more battles at the net. After gaining the lead, Robbinsville didn’t look back and won the second set 25-14.
In the third set, Robbinsville jumped out to an early lead and held it to the end of the set, which won them the match. The Lady Cats rallied at the end for multiple points late, but couldn’t make up enough ground and lost the third set 25-16. Despite trailing in the third set, the Lady Cats battled the entire time and gave the Lady Black Knights a fight to the end.
The student section at Andrews made themselves known from the get-go. They cheered loud and proud in the first home game since students returned to school last week.
Juliet Holloway led the team with five kills. Kylie Donaldson and Mady Queen had four kills each. Holloway also had one dig. Donaldson had two aces, nine digs and two assists. Queen had three digs.
Setter Kaiya Ellis had 14 kills, two kills and two digs. Beth Shook had three kills, one block, two aces and four digs. Chanteah Rattler had one ace, seven digs and one assist.
Allie Gibson had six digs and Caitlynn Thompson and Lauren White had two digs each.
After the match against Robbinsville, Lady Cats head coach Shanna Mustin said, “For the most part, this is the best we’ve played all season, maybe the best we’ve played in two season.
“One of our goals all year long is to come out offensively minded, and we did that tonight. We were hitting hard and serving hard at them and because of that it changes the tempo of the game. Tonight, it was definitely the team I want to see every single game.”
Mustin said freshman Juliet Holloway stood out for her strong hits that made a difference in the match. Mustin also said the whole team played well and they all gave 100% the entire game.
The match against Robbinsville was a “make or break” game in terms of the mental game for the Lady Cats, Mustin said. She felt they rose to the occasion and fought back and they want to use the momentum moving forward into the rest of the conference matches this season.
“It definitely helps. We talk so much about the energy on the court and to have people in the stands cheering us on and keeping that energy going helps us. It’s so hot in here and they’re tired and they’re dead, but then to hear them cheering in the background it pushes us to keep going,” Mustin said on having a full student section in the match against Robbinsville.
The Lady Cats will begin of run of non-conference games starting with hosting Blue Ridge Early College on Thursday, then the will head to Hiwassee Dam on Tuesday. Both matches start at 5 p.m.