Lady Yoe sweep Academy in three sets
The Lady Yoe volleyball team swept the Academy Lady Bees on Friday 3-0.
The first point of the first set went to Academy. The set stayed even until an ace by Kaly White (3) gave the Lady Yoe a 5-3 lead and it would soon grow to 7-3. Another ace by Haley Tucker (6) made it a 13-9 lead for Cameron, then a kill from Ainsley Driska (4) gave Cameron a 15-9 lead. Academy tried to creep back in and made the score 16-14, but Cameron stood tall and grew their lead to 20-14. Academy tried to march back again and made the score 21-18, but the Lady Yoe held on to win the first set 25-21.
“Our girls did a great job of serving tough and serving seams,” Coach Maria Gonzalez said. “We talk about how our serving is critical and we can create trouble for the other team.”
The first two points of the second set went to Cameron. A kill from Driska gave the Lady Yoe a 3-1 lead. The Lady Bees came back and tied it at 3. Academy took the lead and would soon lead 10-7. The Lady Yoe came back and tied the score at 10 on an ace from Tucker. Cameron took back the lead and grew it to 18-14. Cameron kept up the pressure with a kill from Sydni Smith (1) for 21-16 lead. The Cameron offense continued to extend the lead with a kill from Tucker to make the score 24-18, which was followed by an ace from Lauren Harris (9) to win the second set 25-18.
“Our defense did a great job tonight,” Gonzalez said. “We were able to dig and still be in-system.”
The first point of the third set went to Academy. That success for the Lady Bees would be short lived as Cameron took back the lead and with two straight aces from Kirsten Marin (2), the Lady Yoe lead became 5-1. Cameron got a kill from Driska for 7-1 lead followed by a kill from White to make the score 8-1. They then got a block by Smith for a 10-1 lead, then their lead grew to double digits at 13-1. Cameron continued to increase their lead with an ace from Harris for a 20-7 lead. Jessa Florez (13) spiked in a kill for a 24-11 lead and the Lady Yoe went on to win the set 25-12 as an Academy serve went out of bounds.
“We’ve been talking a lot about winning in three and having the confidence to do so.” Gonzalez said. “Kirsten Marin did a fantastic job of putting us ahead with her tough serve.”
With this win, the Lady Yoe tie the season series against the Lady Bees. This win also gives the Lady Yoe an overall record of 22-16 and a district record of 5-3, which keeps them in second place in the district standings. Gonzalez was pleased with how the team was able to take on Little River during their homecoming week with such fight.
“It felt really great to go into someone else’s gym, homecoming night, and pull out the sweep,” Gonzalez said. “Our girls have embraced adversity and have worked hard to get better. I am really proud of them.”
Cameron did not play on Tuesday as that was their bye game. Up next for the Lady Yoe will the Lexington Lady Eagles on the road. The match will be tomorrow and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. in Lexington.