Lady Longhorns fall to Holston
The JCHS Volleyball Team was looking for a sweep of the season series with the Holston, but couldnt find the firepower to overcome a determined Lady Cavs team.
Holston used a breakout match from its middle hitters and the Lady Longhorns couldnt get into a flow in a 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, 25-16 Lady Cavs win in Damascus on Thursday night.
JCHS, which lost to Sullivan East last Tuesday, was looking to bounce back and win a third-straight match over Holston.
Holstons Samantha Roberts and Taylor Doss, who both finished with five kills, led a Lady Cavs attack that started strong and then kept the intensity up to the end.
JCHS, meanwhile, struggled to get anything going offensively and just couldnt get into a flow of the game.
Holston played real well and they hit the ball well, we just didnt do the same likewise, JCHS head coach Eric Crabtree said. We had ample chances to do something and we didnt. They just played better than we did.
After losing game one, JCHS seemed to have turned things around in game two after winning nine of the last 12 points to tie the match at 1-1.
Linnea Yongue and Miranda Payne keyed the late rally in game two for JCHS.
Game three was very tight with the Lady Longhorns staying alive at 23-24 following an outstanding kill from first-year player Rebecca Royston.
However, Holston was able to break serve and close the game out and then cruised in game four.
Kayla Thacker had 10 assists for Holston.
This is the first time we have really played as a whole unit, Holston head coach Katie Butcher said. We were playing together, getting our passes and our sets up there and our hitters are getting smarter about knowing where to put the ball, not necessarily killing the ball.
Weve never really played as a team, never really believed and thats what you have to be a good volleyball team.
The Lady Longhorns seem to be a better home team than road team and Coach Crabtree says thats to be expected.
We were on the road, they had more fans and some football players, Crabtree said. They played better than we did.
It was a rough week for the JCHS team, but the Lady Longhorns are remaining positive.
Were trying to improve every day and get ready for the District Tournament, Crabtree said. Well try to improve our passing, well try to improve our hitting and improve our serving. We have to put a whole game together. Were still not where we need to be, were still learning and tonight was a learning night. We have to play all facets of the game and we didnt tonight.
The JCHS-Holston season series, won by the Lady Longhorns 2-1, has been very competitive between two schools whose counties border one another.
Butcher says she plans for this series to continue.
We not only enjoy playing them and they really give us a challenge which is what we need, but also being close to home makes it a lot easier for us trying to find those non-district matches, she said.
JCHS is on the road at Sullivan North Sept. 28 and will be home for senior night Sept. 30 against Elizabethton.
Stats for JCHS
Sarah Swift: 10 points, 20 assists
Ashley Arnold: 19 assists, 7 points
Lizzie Dugger: 3 digs
JV Report
The JCHS Lady Longhorns fell to Holston in the JV contest by a score of 19-25, 25-17, 12-15