AHSAA VOLLEYBALL: MA tops at Class 3A Regional
Montgomery Academy’s Sarah Emmons (white) and LAMP’s Kolbi Bates with serves during the Class 4A Super Regional at Garrett Coliseum on Friday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
Relentless.
Straughn (20-5) stood toe to toe with Montgomery Academy through the early moments of Friday’s South Super Regional 4A quarterfinal matchup, battling the Eagles evenly and even coming off with a block or two to score points off of the two-time defending state champs.
Gradually, however, the Tigers couldn’t match the relentless pressure from the Eagles. A mistake would cost them a point. And another. And another.
The Eagles would go on to score the majority of points in the second half of each match, defeating the Tigers in straight sets 25-13, 25-12 and 25-10 in a match that was much closer than the score indicated.
“I was impressed,” Montgomery Academy Julie Gordon said. “Ann Cobern (Chapman) said it: ‘we don’t want it to be easy.’ And we don’t. We don’t want to come in and not be challenged. We had to play there. They blocked well and when they set it up, they could swing.”
The win would qualify the Eagles for another return to the state tournament, but MA would go on to win the regional championship by beating St. Michael in the semifinals (25-18, 25-3, 25-11) and area rival LAMP in the finals (25-17, 25-12, 25-21).
“We want to leave out of here with the best seeding that we can, that will hopefully give us an advantage at state,” Gordon said after the win over Straughn. “We’ve been working on defense really hard, really aggressive this week and we talked about balls that are near sideline or inline and to run to the line. You never know whether it might be one inch (in bounds) and if it’s a state championship point and you didn’t go for it, how bad are you going to feel?
“I was really proud of how they carried over what we worked in practice and put it into action. It was relentless defense today and I’m really proud of them.”
Montgomery Academy (32-7) will play fourth-seeded Westminster Christian from the North Super Regional in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
Other matchups in the state tournament include Curry vs. Northside, LAMP vs. Jacksonville and Madison Academy vs. St. Michael. All games are at 11:30 p.m.
The four winners advance to the semifinals later on Wednesday at approximately 3:30 p.m., with the 4A finals scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m.
LAMP advances
LAMP wasn’t able to overcome the mastery of Montgomery Academy, but the Golden Tigers have another week before facing that obstacle again.
LAMP advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive year, finishing as South Super Regional 4A runner-up to area rival Montgomery Academy on Friday at Garrett Coliseum.
The Golden Tigers earned their trip to the state tournament by advancing to the semifinals of the regionals, beating Dora 25-15, 25-9 and 25-7.
“We had a goal when we started the season and each game right now is getting us a little closer to that goal,” LAMP coach Dee Wilson said. “I think there was a team focus for our next goal, so they showed up ready to play.”
Last year, trying to earn a state tournament berth was a new vision for LAMP but after returning virtually intact from a semifinal loss to eventual state champion Bayside Academy, this year’s squad was much more confident and relaxed as they disposed of Dora in quick fashion.
“I think last year you’re telling them all season ‘this is where we want to be, this is what we want to do, this is what it’s going to be like,’ but once they’ve tasted it, it makes a big difference,” Wilson said. “There’s less motivation from me and it’s more about them.
“Even our school is behind us and supporting us. Last year, that was some of the senior’s best memories, us going to state and them going and cheering for them. I think it’s the drive of our team the whole season.”
In the semifinal, LAMP polished off Northside 25-13, 25-11 and 25-15 to advance to the finals, where they lost to Montgomery Academy 25-17, 25-12 and 25-21.
They’ll have some time to prepare for the next possible meeting with the Eagles. LAMP (22-10) will play Jacksonville in the 4A quarterfinals on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. A win will put them in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m., facing either Curry or Northside. Should they advance to the finals on Thursday at 2 p.m., the Golden Tigers will face the winner of the other part of the bracket that includes Montgomery Academy.
In the win over Dora, Olivia Hughes had 13 kills, an ace and four blocks, Claire Conway had seven kills, three blocks and a dig, Jailyn Dixon had seven kills and six digs, Gracey Norris had three kills, two blocks and a dig, Grace Hoffman had a kill, four aces, two blocks, three digs and 28 assists, Kolbi Bates had four digs, Annabel Baker had two aces and eight digs, Anika Clark had three digs and Borden Lash had four digs.
In the win over Northside, Hughes had 15 kills, an ace, two blocks, two digs and two assists, Norris had 10 kills and a pair of aces, Conway had six kills and two blocks, Dixon had three kills, Bates had four aces and six digs, Hoffman had two kills, two aces, three digs and 25 assists, Lauren Bonikowski had two kills and two digs, Baker had an ace and six digs and Clark had an ace, five digs and two assists.
In the match against Montgomery Academy, Hughes had 10 kills, an ace, three blocks and two digs, Conway had six kills and two blocks, Norris had five kills, two blocks and two digs, Bonikowski had three kills and an assist, Hoffman had a kill, a block, three digs and 21 assists, Lash had four digs, Clark had two digs, Baker had an ace, five digs and an assist, Dixon had three blocks and two digs and Bates had an ace and three digs.
Friday’s match with Dora was the first start for senior Claire Conway in seven weeks after severely spraining her ankle in September.
“It took us a little bit, we’ve been working all week trying to get in a groove, playing beside people and the way the lineup works now,” Wilson said. “We’re all going after the same goal and that’s what makes this a lot of fun.”