Hiwassee Dam – It was a bit of a late start for Hiwassee Dam volleyball, but thankfully for head coach Angie Davis, it’s been a good group to work with so far.
“They’re a really good group of girls,” Davis said. “They are responding very well. They come in and they work hard.”
Davis didn’t get the notice she would be the head coach until July. Last year’s head coach, Monica Wayman, accepted a teaching job in Clay County. That meant Davis had to step in though she’s been here before, having led the Lady Eagles to a 43-19 record and three straight Little Smoky Mountain conference championships from 2015-17. With a little more of a head start, she would’ve liked to run some camps and preseason workouts, though Hiwassee Dam is looking better in the early going than they did all of last season.
The Lady Eagles graduated just two seniors from last year, and some of the experience gained last year by young players who had to step up due to injuries is paying dividends. After a season opening sweep of rival Copper Basin, Tenn., Hiwassee Dam lost to Robbinsville (4-2) and Swain County (5-0) before splitting with Andrews (2-3) and Murphy (2-1) on Aug. 22-24.
Against the Lady Wildcats, the Lady Eagles controlled the first set thanks to some kills from Olivia McNabb and Brinkley Payne, then battled back and forth with Andrews in the second set before taking advantage of some errors to close it out. The Lady Wildcats would win the next two sets to force a winner take all fifth set, where Hiwassee Dam made the decisive run. With the set tied at six, a 6-0 run with McNabb gave the Lady Eagles separation. Back-to-back service aces from Brinkley Payne closed out the match.
“They really fought hard Tuesday against Andrews,” Davis said. “They kind of slacked off in the third set but they did fight the rest of the way through.”
Against the Lady Bulldogs, except for a hot start to the second set, Hiwassee Dam could never get going. The Lady Eagles struggled in serve receive at times, as well as with passing. Hiwassee Dam has three capable hitters in Payne and Katie and Olivia McNabb, but struggles to get them in position to put a good swing on the ball.
“We really need to work on our passes,” Davis said after the Murphy loss. “We have a good program, we just need to fix some minor things.”
There are pieces to work with and the Lady Eagles have good size and athletes. They just need more volleyball experience. The attitudes have been positive so far, Davis said, now they just have to keep it that way, as mentality can go a long way in volleyball.
“To keep working and stay up and just not quit,” Davis said about goals for the rest of the season. “And I think we’ll see good things if they keep that perseverance.”