Dragonettes Split with Lady “Cats”

The Pickens High School Dragonettes junior varsity/freshmen volleyball team ventured to Gilmer High School to take part in two matches with the Lady Bobcats. Pickens was posed to face both Flowery Branch and Gilmer; however, due to a rescheduling Flowery Branch was unable to attend. The Dragonettes split with the hosting Lady “Cats,” as the home team took the first game, in straight sets, and Pickens picked up the win in game two, 2-1.Game one began with the Dragonettes in hot water early, as the Lady “Cats” clawed an early lead with a 6-0 run in the first set. Pickens picked up its first point with net violation from Gilmer, and promptly cut the lead to four with an Ace from Allie Stephens.

Stephens Ace did not spark a comeback as the “Cats” closed the set outscoring the Dragonettes 19-9 to take a 25-11 win in set one.

Set two saw Dragonettes heat up somewhat. The “Cats” claimed an early lead; however, Ashley Hamby’s Ace tied the game at 2-2. The teams traded failed serves to tie the set at 3-3, until an Ashley Craig kill gave Pickens its first lead of the day. The kill sparked an 8-2 run by the Dragonettes that included three straight kills from Emily Thayer.

The Lady “Cats” came back with a 10-4 run that tied the game at 15-15. Gilmer then outscored Pickens 10-2 en route the 25-17 set, and 2-0 match victory.

The first set of the second match saw a back and forth battle that resulted in a 5-5 tie broken by a Gilmer serve out of bounds that gave Pickens a one point lead. Caryn Curry then carried the Dragonettes to a 5-0 run, as she scored on four straight Aces. Jessica Jones added a kill to complete the run.

The Dragonettes held onto the lead throughout the set, never letting the “Lady Cats” closer than two, before procuring a 25-22 Pickens win in set one.

Set two saw another competitive start, resulting in three ties in the sets’ first eight points. Gilmer took the lead after a 4-4 tie and went onto outscore Pickens 21 to 15 to take a 25-19 set two win.

The third and deciding set, saw the “Nettes” fall behind early, thanks to a 5-1 “Cats” run; however, Pickens picked up the pace, with a 10-6 run that tied the game at 11-11. The “Nettes” nixed the “Cats” by outscoring the host team 14-10 to take the set and match victory.