The Lady Aces traveled to Newton Tuesday night for a conference face off. The gym was packed with Newton fans celebrating their seniors. There was no messing around by the Aces last night. They started strong and got ahead early 8-3, but Newton battled back with a run of 7. We had close back and forth play till the end, but the defense won the set for the Aces with 4 blocks and 16 digs for a final set score of 25-23. The second set we had more kills, but Newton changed up their offense and hammered from the right side. Coach Willis made some adjustments to the defense and the girls responded well, but Newton still took the set 17- 25. The team wanted the 3rd set badly to hang on to conference title hopes. It started in point for point fashion with the Eagle and Aces going on long volleys back and forth till 8 all. That’s when the Aces found their run of good luck with every ball falling their way in a run of 10 straight with Lyla Keepes serving to 18. This gave the Aces all the confidence to take it home and win 25-11. The team had the most kills the 3rd set with 16, and 23 digs. The Aces had 4 players having over 10 digs, Mattie, Jayla, Tenley, and Lyla. They also had 3 players with over 5 kills, Maycee, Lyla, and Tensley. Kyleigh and Avery were right there with 4 kills each. Mattie and Gabby had 13 assists each. It one hundred percent gave everyone the feeling of a total team effort win.
Stats for the Aces were Mattie Armstrong 13 assists, 14 digs, 2 kills, Jayla Johnson 1 ace, 3 kills, 11 digs, Maycee Randall, 3 aces, 5 dig, 5 kills, 4 blocks, 3 digs, Tenley Davis 14 digs, 1 ace, Lyla Keepes 1 kill, 6 digs, Kyleigh Smith 3 kills, 1 assist, Tensley Dunlap 1 kills, 1 dig, Avery Coston 3 kills, Gabby Schneider 11 assist, 5 digs.
The JV team played good defense against a strong attacking Newton team, but struggled on the attacking front. They just couldn’t score enough from kills, but kept the first set close 18-25. The second set Newton had some big runs winning 10-25. A high point was the libero Miley Farmer had 15 digs, and Leah Lewis with 9.
Player stats Leah Lewis 3 aces, 9 digs, 2 kills, Avery Coston 2 kills, Cate Pyatt, 5 kills, Mylee Farmer 1 ace, 15 digs, Mercedes Dillard 1 ace, 4 digs, Leila Sweeney 1 dig, Quincy Keepes 2 digs 6 assists, Ryleigh Gill 2 digs, Josie James 1 kill, 1 dig.
The Freshman split sets. They played scrappy and won the first set against Newton 25-15, but dropped the second 12-25.
The Aces will be back on the road Thursday facing Paris. If the Aces win they will share a conference champions title.
Comments by assistant coach Bonnie Keepes
Photo credit Nichole Loudermilk
