Volleyball squad enjoying season

Courier Sports Report

Cannon County’s volleyball team has proven to be competitive this season and the young Lionettes, who only have one senior, battle inconsistency as most young teams do.

Nonetheless, despite going up and down like a roller coaster, they have enjoyed exciting matches.

The Lionettes suffered a tough setback against Livingston Academy but showed their moxie in defeat.

The Lionettes started slow, allowing Livingston Academy to go on a 10-point tear for a 21-5 lead before taking back serve. Cannon County was only able to score four more points and suffered a 25-11 setback in the first set.

The Lionettes put up more of a fight in the second set. With Livingston Academy leading 22-14, Cannon County took serve and with Arianna Kailiponi serving, rallied to pull to within 23-19. The Lionettes once again stopped Livingston Academy at set point to regain serve and closed to within 24-21 before the Lady Wildcats finally secured a 25-21 victory.

Livingston Academy won the match with a 25-19 victory in the third and decisive set. Despite the loss, Cannon County had some excellent plays with blocking and hits at the net, saves from inches above the floor, back sets and taps over the net when the opponent least expected it.

In the junior varsity match there were six ties in the first set; however, with Cannon County trailing 24-21, it regained serve and Shelley Nicholson took over serve.

Nicholson served four straight points to lead the junior varsity to a 26-24 win over Livingston.

The junior varsity gave a glimpse of the potential and talent of the future as they chased balls out of bounds to keep rallies alive, set balls for power hits and made diving saves to prevent the Lady Wildcats from scoring.

When Catie Adams went sailing to the floor to prevent a Livingston hit, excitement filled the air. The ball blasted over the net from Adams’ fists and put the Lionettes in position to win the point.

In the second set, Cari Eggleston served to start the game and continued the serve for the first four points of the set. The Lionettes continued to have excellent plays to stay in a close battle with Livingston Academy. Katie Hoskins served five straight points to give Cannon County the 16-11 lead. As the lead built, so did the confidence of the Lionettes as they went on for a 25-17 sweep to win the match.

* The Lionettes hard a hard fought match with Monterey.

The Lionettes trailed 16-11 when Cheyenne Fann served four straight points to tie the score. Monterey gained two more points before losing serve. Rebekah Faulkner’s strong serves allowed Cannon County to storm ahead 20-16 before Monterey tied the set. The first set continued back and forth until Cannon County’s defense caused Monterey to lose serve. The Lionettes battled from behind and claimed a 25-23 win in the first set.

The second set was more of the same with the team’s trading points until Emmy Sissom’s save at the net turned the tide for good. Cannon County went on a scoring frenzy behind the serving of Cheyenne Fann, who provided eight straight points.

Monterey regained the serve and went ahead 24-21. Once again, the Lionettes regained serve and Faulkner helped pace a 26-24 triumph.

Cannon County also turned back Clay County. Shawni Heery, Faulkner, Kailiponi, Haylee Mooneyham and Sissom were outstanding for the Lionettes. Mooneyham had four straight points serving and Sissom’s sets were on point as the Lionettes turned in some of their better play of the season.

They suffered a narrow loss against Smith County.