Despite falling to Fannin in three out of four matches in a scrimmage earlier in the week, the Pickens Dragonettes volleyball team swept the Lady Rebels of Fannin County High School 2-0. However, the Dragonettes themselves were swept by Our Lady of Mercy later in the evening. The Dragonettes beat the Lady Rebels, 25-13 and 25-17; they fell to the Bobcats of OLM, 25-7 and 25-6.The Dragonettes began the day in front of a small but boisterous crowd by battling with the Lady Rebels. The Dragonettes drew first blood; however, the Lady Rebels quickly tied the game 1-1. Two successive blocks by Heather Fox gave Pickens a 3-1 lead, but Fannin once again tied the game quickly.

Defense Gets Ready
(Photo by LT Melton)

Both teams traded points back and forth until Pickens pick up its seventh point, which broke a 6-6, tie when Lady Rebel Hope Cochran was called for a carry. Pickens’ Tracy Dinsmore’s ace made the score 8-6. It was the first point in what became a 10-3 in which several “Nettes” heated up, including Kelah Hendon, who had three straight Aces, and Fox, who continued to block shots like a “Two and Half Men” producer at a Charlie Sheen party.

Down 17-9, the Lady Rebels called time out to try to douse the Dragonettes fire. The “Nettes,” however, would not be denied, as they outscored their counterparts 8-4 from that point on to secure the 25-13 victory.

Game two saw the Lady Rebels race out to a 3-0 lead on the strong aces of Chandler Byrd that would have been the envy of any black jack player in Vegas. Pickens first point came via a carry by Lady Rebel, Mallory Arp. Pickens’ Fox picked up another point with a block and the game was tied after a series of spirited back and forth volleys.

Both teams traded leads and ties, with neither team securing more than a one point lead until the game was tied at 13 a piece. Pickens then pulled away with a 12-4 run that was led, fittingly, by Dragonette Captain, Emma Fox’s four straight aces, and featured a “nice hook shot” for a score from Heather Fox doing her best Dwight Howard impression throughout the day.

Postgame Sportswomenship
(Photo by LT Melton)

The Dragonettes next took on Our Lady of Mercy, who, despite their namesake, showed a distinct lack of mercy. OLM’s Olivia Schmitz and Mary Katherine Schmitz, took no flack, as they killed the Dragonettes softly with their song, no matter what the score was. Olivia Schmitz was a one woman killing machine, not seen since Terminator 3, as she racked up kill after kill, like Charlize Theron in “Monster.”

The Bobcats held both the Lady Rebels and the Dragonettes to single digits in all four games. The strength and tenacity of the OLM Bobcats was simply unmatched and the Dragonettes were simply trying to hold on. With each dig attempt the “Nettes” were seen wearing an O. Schmitz expression, as they Bobcats cruised to victory.