The Dragonnettes traveled to Fannin County High School on Thursday night and took three different teams with them. The 9th grade team was pitted against the junior varsity team of Morris Innovative and lost (25-10, 25-23(L), 27-25(L)). The JV squad faced the JV counterpart from Fannin and came away with the win (25-23(L), 25-20, 25-19), while the varsity team also played Fannin and lost (25-15(L), 27-25(L)).The 9th grade “Nettes” faced a Morris Innovative JV team that definitely had more than 9th graders. Pickens was on fire (so much so that the fire alarm went off) and took the first set 25-10. This was a pretty through thrashing for a group of freshman against a team of older girls.

The “Nettes” opened the second set up with an early lead on the Lady Tigers and looked poised to take the match. Pickens led the entire set and was up 21-19 when the Lady Tigers fought back and won 25-23.

The Lady Tigers took the lead quickly in the third set and had a commanding 23-18 lead. The 9th grade “Nettes” fired off a 6-1 run to tie it at 24-24, but it wasn’t enough as Morris Innovational was able to hold off the Nettes and win 27-25.

The JV team was up against Fannin, and this was one of the finer matches of the evening. Neither team could really pull away early, but Pickens held the lead all the way to a 22-21 score. The Lady Rebels closed on a 4-1 run and won the first set 25-23.

The JV “Nettes,” again, took the lead early but couldn’t distance themselves from the Lady Rebels. A 16-15 lead for the “Nettes,” turned into two point 19-17 deficit. The Nettes then scored six straight points forcing a Fannin timeout. The time out proved to be ineffective, as the Nettes took the set, 25-20, closing on an 8-1 run.

The final set saw Pickens take an early lead and never look back. The JV Nettes were able to take the final set 25-19, and win the match.

The varsity “Nettes” went against Fannin as well. Stout play by Sarah Smith up front helped the Nettes take the lead 13-11. The Lady Rebels were able to score nine straight points, on the strength of some great serves, and the “Nettes” were unable to recover. The Lady Rebels closed on a 14-2 run and took the set from the Nettes, 25-15.

In the final set, the “Nettes” and Lady Rebels battled back and forth during the early stages. Fannin was able to pull away and take a 24-18 lead that seemed to end all hope for the “Nettes;” however, PIckens put up a great fight, and fought back to tie the set at 24-24. The “Nettes” put up a great effort, but the Lady Rebels were still able to pull out the win 27-25.