LADY PANTHER VARSITY SQUAD CAPTURES FIRST REGIONAL BERTH; JV TEAM EARNS 2011 LAUDERDALE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP!!! (UPDATED 10/12/2011)

The varsity volleyball team made history by earning a berth in the Regional tournament for the first time.  MH defeated Colbert Heights in three games (25-12, 26-24, 25-22) to clinch second place in the area.  Ann Marie Mitchell led the team with 18 kills, one Block and six point scoring tips.  She went 18-20 from the serving line, with three aces.  Mary Brooke Willis had 17 kills and one tip.  She was 14-16 on serves with two aces.  Hallie Abernathy led the team in assists and serves with 18 assists and 24-25 serves with three aces.  Hallie also had one block.  Anna Katherine Green had 15 assists, one tip, 18-20 on serves with one ace.  Alex Lauderdale was the only Lady Panther that was perfect from the service line.  She went 15-15 with two aces and also added six kills, three tips, four assists and one block.  Madison Jacobs had six kills, two assists, and was 6-8 on serves with two aces and three tips.  The offense was made possible by outstanding defensive plays of senior Natalie Rikard and sophomore Hope Clark.  The girls face Altamont on Saturday @10:00 in Hatton.

Mars Hill Bible School's Junior Varsity team won the 2011 Lauderdale County Tournament.  In three exciting matches Mars Hill claimed its first county championship.  MHBS began the afternoon with a quick victory over Florence.  In the semi-finals the team defeated Wilson in three games, with each game going down to the wire.  The momentum from this match led the Lady Panthers into the finals with determination.  It took three games again, with a final score of 16-14, as Mars Hill defeated Lexington to become the County Champs.  Assistant Coach Christie Abernathy stated, "All of the girls played great and three were honored with being named to the all county-team: Tiffany Allen, Bailey Plunket and Tatyana Rutherford."  The 2011 JV record stands at 14-6.

7TH-8TH GRADE TEAMS HAVE SUCCESSFUL 2011 SEASON

Congratulations to the 7th-8th grade volleyball teams for a great season.  The 8th grade team finished their season with a loss to Lexington in the semi-finals of the county tournament. They defeated Rogers in (five games) the opening match.  Sarah Hester and Jessa Plunket were named to the All-County team.  They concluded the season with a record of 15-13.

SET-UPS/ASSISTS ARE KEY TO VOLLEYBALL

 

Although they may not be as flashy or audience-pleasing as a dig or a kill, set-ups/assists are the critical component in volleyball success and the Lady Panthers showed significant improvements this season.