The Pickens High School Dragonettes volleyball team played host to the Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins and the Heritage Lady Generals on Tuesday night. The ninth grade team faced the junior varsity squad from Northwest Whitfield and fell (25-20(L), 25-10(L)). The Nettes’ JV team faced the same Lady Bruin squad and lost (25-18(L), 25-20(L)). The tough night for the Dragonettes volleyball teams continued as the varsity team lost to both Northwest Whitfield (25-23(L), 25-13(L)) and Heritage (25-13(L), 25-11(L)).The ninth grade “Nettes” had a tough match against an experienced JV team from NW Whitfield. Pickens took a quick 5-2 lead, and looked to be up to the challenge; however the Lady Bruins was able to pull away quickly.

After jumping out to a 13-0 lead, the Lady Bruins traded points until the set was won by Northwest, 25-20.
The “Nettes” did a great job of staying close to the Bruins, with the match tied at 7-7. A timeout by the Lady Bruins proved to be very effective, as NW closed the match out on an 18-3 run.

The 25-10 loss for the “Nettes” looked worse than it was, considering the ninth grade “Nettes” got nixed by an older JV team.

The JV “Nettes” faced the same team and was somewhat more successful, but still saw the same result. Pickens started the first set well, taking a quick 4-0 lead.

Pickens picked up a lead and continued to show great teamwork all the way to a 15-13 lead. The Lady Bruins started a rally that proved to be hard to slow, and NW closed the set on a 12-3 run.

The second set for the JV “Nettes” proved to be more of the same. Another quick lead was diminished as the Lady Bruins hit a hot streak. A 12-7 lead for the Nettes turned into a 25-20 defeat.

The varsity’s first match of the night came against the Lady Bruins. The first set was close, and neither team was able to pull away. With the match tied a 9-9, the “Nettes” found something and started to pull away.

A Megan Cook ace got things started and the “Nettes” built a 20-14 lead. During this stretch, there were strong serves, and Sarah Smith demonstrated great net play for the “Nettes.”

It looked as if the set was under Pickens’ control, but a Northwest timeout was all that was needed to start a comeback. An 11-3 run by the Lady Bruins led NW to a 25-23 victory in the first set.

Northwest Whitfield’s momentum carried over into the second set. The Lady Bruins was able to convert almost every single kill shot, as the players found the holes in the defense with ease.

If there was an open spot, the ball was sure to find it. Pickens found itself in a whole the “Nettes” could not dig out of, losing the second set 25-13 and the match.

The final match of the night was against the Heritage Lady Generals from Catoosa County. This Heritage team looked strong as it had just come off a pretty convincing win against the Lady Bruins.

The “Nettes” fought hard and held its own for most of the first match. Mary Kapuscinski had a plethora of good serves which helped keep the set close.

Heritage took control and was able to pile on the points quickly. There was little the “Nettes” could do as the Generals was able to dig most shots, and put away most kills with ease. Heritage took the first set 25-13.

Just like the first match of the night, Pickens had a tough time getting the momentum back on its side. Heritage pulled out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. A Callie Greene ace got the “Nettes” back within four, 8-4; however, 17-7 run finished out the set and the match was won by Heritage, 25-11.