DANVILLE, Ala. — Addison traveled to Danville High School to take on the hosting 3A Hawks and the 4A West Morgan Lady Rebels in a late season tri-match. Addison swept the Lady Hawks 26-24 and 25-19 but lost in a thrilling three set match to West Morgan 21-25, 25-23 and 15-17.
Addison’s Lady Bulldogs had already beaten the Danville Lady Hawks earlier in the year and were looking to complete the season sweep. Danville got off to a great start jumping to a quick 7-0 lead and then extended it to 12-1. Many unforced errors were the Lady Bulldogs problem early in the set and it would continue to plague them the remainder of their games. After settling down and splitting the next six points, Addison had cut the lead to 15-5. Dacey Baker took her serve and dominated the next ten points, leading Addison to a 15-15 tie. The Lady Hawks wouldn’t go away and took 5 out of the next 6 points to go up 20-16. This set had excellent defense played, especially by the hometown Lady Hawks. Several long volleys between the teams showed both teams skill sets. Danville got to 24-22 lead and only needed one point for the victory in the set. Baker then served the Bulldogs to victory as she closed the game on a 4-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs 26-24 win. Addison’s Bailee Ory and Lauryn Cunningham were the defensive stalwarts for this set while Ava Bartlett had a key block.
The second set started the same as the first with the Lady Hawks jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Addison, after a timeout, came out recharged and went to business. Led by Ory and Baker, Addison took the lead at 10-8. The game then settled into a really good back and forth volleyball game. Points were exchanged and no one could get on a run. With the game standing at 16-12 in Addison’s favor, Baker took over and served the Dawgs to 5 straight points to gives Addison the commanding 21-12 lead. Baker’s serve was helped by a block from Barrett and several digs by Ory and Hadley Butler. Baker and Katie Barrett had a couple kills each. The Lady Hawks refused to quit and came back again trying to force a third set. Danville cut the lead to 23-17. It continued to be a close game, but Addison’s Lady Bulldogs finished the Lady Hawks off by the score of 25-19.
Addison then played the West Morgan Lady Rebels and Addison had split their earlier matchups with each team winning a game apiece. These three sets were very evenly matched on this night, but Addison’s continued unforced errors would haunt them for the entire game. The first set had the Lady Bulldogs getting behind early. West Morgan led 4-1. The Lady Bulldogs would take 5 out of the next 9 points to cut the Lady Rebel lead to 10-6. Annabeth Powell served for 4 straight points to tie West Morgan at 10. West Morgan then went on a 6 out of 7 run to take charge at 16-11 lead. There was one long volley during that run that literally lasted about 45 seconds and had several outstanding plays by both teams. The game was played fairly evenly the rest of the way with neither team able to either extend the lead or cut into the lead. West Morgan hung on to take the first set, 25-21.
The second set was just about like the first set. The Lady Rebels again, jumped out 3-0. Addison settled in and started making their shots as they, led by Barrett, went on a 6-1 run. Addison had taken the lead 6-4. For the next several minutes, each team would score two or three points in a row and then the other team would answer. With the score standing at Addison 23-21, Bartlett had a key block and Brystil Moser had a huge dig, the Lady Dawgs squeaked out a close 25-23 win forcing a decisive third set.
In the third set you guessed it, the Lady Bulldogs got off to another slow start with the Lady Rebels surging to a 6-2 lead. With the winning team only having to score 15 in the third set it was a large hole for the Lady Bulldogs. This is when the Senior leadership of Addison’s team stepped up and Baker and Butler led the team on a huge run. Addison took 10 out of the next 11 points to take a commanding lead at 12-7. It looked like Addison would wrap up the victory as they increased their lead to 14-9. Needing only one point for the win, Addison’s ladies could not close the deal. While on the cusp of victory, the unforced errors returned. West Morgan fought back from the brink of defeat and scored 5 straight points to tie it a 14-14. Addison regained the lead at 15-14 but the Lady Rebels came away with the final 3 points to win, 17-15.
Addison, hopefully will use this defeat to clean up the unforced errors as they continue to get ready for their perennial trip to the playoffs.
Addison moves to 31-7 on the season and will travel to Haleyville to take on the Lady Lions on Thursday night.
Official stats for both games
Addison was led in kills by Ava Bartlett and Dacey Baker with 13 each. Lauryn Cunningham had 9. Annabeth Powell and Katie Barrett had 5 each. Hadley Butler had 4.
Digs were Bailee Ory with 31 and Baker with 21. Butler and Cunningham had 14 each. Barrett had 11. Moser had 10. Powell had 5 while Bartlett had 2.
Aces were Baker with 9. Cunningham and Barrett had 2. Butler had 1.
Blocks were Bartlett with 5. Butler had 3, Bartlett had 2. Barrett had 1.
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