CULLMAN – Cullman had to make adjustments on the floor tonight to accommodate for the absence of sophomore libero Bailey Swann, who was recovering from food poisoning.
The Lady Bearcats dropped a three-game set on Thursday afternoon to 6A, Area 14 foe Albertville. Then in the evening time, they bounced back to sweep Randolph of Huntsville two games to none.
Coach Michelle Greenlee's squad had split tri-matches this week at home, losing to the first opponent then coming back to salvage a split on Tuesday and today.
The Lady 'Cats are 7-5 overall and 1-2 in the area standings.
"We had to move around some people without Bailey," Greenlee said following the victory over Randolph. "We adjusted well. Gracie Apel did a good job in her place, especially serving the ball well in the Randolph match."
As Albertville prevailed 25-16, 25-21 and 25-22 in an hour and six minutes to start the tri-match, the Lady Aggies converted 29 kills in the match to just 13 for Cullman.
That was a huge difference in points coming from the Lady Aggies at the net with Cullman finding itself in an off-balance situation.
Trying to avoid a sweep by Albertville, Cullman went ahead in game three 21-20 on a volley by Meredith McPherson.
However, Albertville tied the score then went ahead on a service ace and got a block at the net to sweep the Lady Bearcats and drop them under the .500 mark in area play.
According to reports, Albertville is undefeated on the season at 15-0 after the tri-match sweep and 2-0 in the area. This area contains Cullman, Albertville, Fort Payne and Brewer.
McPherson had five points on serve in the Albertville match with Apel and Hannah Sawyer scoring four, Tiffani Schwaiger getting three. Anna Evans had five kills in the match along with two blocks. Caroline Hollingsworth converted two kills and had three blocks.
Albertville topped Randolph 25-15, 25-20 in 42 minutes. The Lady Raiders then faced Cullman with the lead swapping sides three times before the Lady Bearcats went ahead on a kill from Corley Parrish and a 10-9 advantage.
A service ace moments later from Amanda Hill pushed the margin to 18-14. Then the Lady 'Cats started to control the net with four of their final seven points scored on kills between Parrish and Evans. Evans had three straight kills as the set ended on a service point from Apel, who was playing the libero position for the ailing Swann.
Apel set the tone in the second set with seven consecutive service points, giving Cullman an 8-1 lead. Kills by Schwaiger, Kennedy Wren, Schwaiger again and Hollingsworth sent the home team to a comfortable 13-5 score.
After a service point from Hill to extend the lead to 18-7, the largest of the set, Randolph used a time-out. It worked to the Lady Raiders' side as they started to connect on serves and took advantage of three kill attempts by Cullman that were long and out of bounds.
The visitors from Huntsville fought back to make the score 22-21, then committed a service error when the ball went into the net, resulting in a point for Cullman and a 23-21 lead.
A volley from Paden Adams had the Lady 'Cats on the verge of winning the match, but Randolph broke service and pulled to 24-23.
Then on a volley return, Parrish completed the 10th kill in the set and Cullman claimed a hard fought victory in 42 minutes.
Cullman scored 19 points on kills in the match to just nine for Randolph. Evans had five, Schwaiger and Parrish got four apiece and three by Hollingsworth.
Apel accounted for nine service points with eight for Hill. Apel and McPherson handled the ball well, setting up the front line to put it away with the 19 kills they accomplished in the match.
Now the Lady Bearcats travel to the Eddie Pruitt Ford Invitational in Hartselle Friday and Saturday. They are scheduled to play Madison Academy, Oxford and St. John Paul on Friday in pool play.
The Lady 'Cats go to Austin in Decatur Monday in regular season play. Guntersville and Geraldine visit the CHS campus for a tri-match Tuesday.
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