CULLMAN – It was just another day at the office when the Cullman Lady Bearcats welcomed the Fort Payne Lady Wildcats to town in an Area 14 showdown Thursday afternoon. The Lady Bearcats cruised to victory in straight sets 25-16, 25-18 and 25-16.
Starting in the first set of the match, Cullman established dominance by opening up with a 9-0 run on the back of a trifecta of kills from Tiffani Schwaiger. She, along with Anna Evans, combined for a solid block for the seventh point of the set to prompt a Fort Payne timeout. Out of the timeout, the Lady Wildcats gave up two quick points but rallied back with three of their own to make the score 9-3. However, Meredith McPherson and Corley Parrish put an end to the Fort Payne mini run with a pair of vicious kills. Cullman closed the set on a 4-0 run to take set one 25-16.
Fort Payne scored first in the second set, giving the Lady Wildcats their first lead of the match, albeit briefly. Kennedy Wrenn blasted a kill that just stayed in to tie the game. The score went back and forth through the early part of the set until four straight points on a pair of kills from Caroline Hollingsworth and Schwaiger and a pair of aces from Bailey Swann gave Cullman a comfortable 12-7 lead that they never lost. The Lady Bearcats finished on an 8-3 run to take the second set 25-18.
It was more of the same in the third set as Cullman held tough against a Fort Payne team who had their backs against the wall. Solid play from Evans that included kills, aces and blocks helped the Lady Cats claim the set 25-16 and the match 3-0.
Cullman is scheduled to play in the Brooks High School Invitational Tournament Saturday with their first opponent being Hatton. First serve is scheduled at 9 a.m.
Fort Payne will hit the hardwood next as they go on the road Monday to take on Plainview.
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