The Gilmer High Lady Cats were on the volleyball court last week for four matches, which included two versus area opponents.
Those area matchups took place Tuesday when GHS made its way to North Hall and defeated the East Hall Vikings 2-1 while dropping its match against the host Trojans, 2-0. Gilmer was back on the road two days later and fell to the Southeast Whitfield Raiders 2-1 and topped the Dalton Catamounts by the same margin.
Gilmer was without regular varsity starters Adrian Thompson and Libby Pike Tuesday. In its first match, GHS took the court versus East Hall and fell in the first set, 25-15. The Cats regrouped for wins of 25-7 and 18-16 over the final two sets for the win.
Anneliese Vaughn stepped up in Thompson’s absence for 19 assists, and Dacey Attebery posted four, which were dished to Elly Callihan (12 kills), Taylor McCormick (six), Kadie Weaver (five) and Hali Hice (three). Attebery was also the Cats’ ace leader with four, and McCormick led the way with two blocks.
Callihan was there for nine digs followed by McCormick and Weaver (four each), Attebery (three), Vaughn and Reagan Boling (two each).
North Hall downed the Cats with wins of 25-12 in both sets. GHS statistical leaders included Callihan with three kills and one ace, Vaughn with three assists and three digs and McCormick with three digs.
Thompson was back for Thursday’s matches, and the first against Southeast Whitfield got rolling with a 25-6 Lady Cat win. But the Raiders answered with victories of 25-17 and 15-7 in sets two and three to take the match.
Ten points were scored off serves for GHS, which included aces by McCormick (three), Thompson, Weaver, Callihan (two each) and Vaughn (one). Gilmer’s top hitters were Callihan (nine), McCormick (six), Weaver (three), while Thompson, Vaughn and Hice all had two. Thompson provided 13 assists and Vaughn was there for five.
Dig leaders were Callihan (seven), McCormick (five), Boling (four), Thompson and Vaughn (three apiece) and Gracie Cain (two).
The Dalton match needed three sets as well, and the Catamounts won the first, 25-14, ahead of GHS wins of 25-6 and 16-14. Callihan as the top hitter again with six kills, both Vaughn and McCormick had five each and Weaver finished with four. Thompson was tops with 11 assists and Vaughn totaled seven. Vaughn and Callihan both posted seven digs, Weaver had six and Thompson five.
“The win over Dalton was a real confidence booster and really opened their eyes to see how well this team can play together when they put their hearts into it,” said GHS head coach Donna Parks.
Ahead of last week was a tournament at Coahulla Creek High School Saturday, Sept. 11, and GHS won two matches and lost three for a runner-up placement in the silver bracket.
Teams were placed in groups of four to start the event, and Gilmer picked up a 25-17 and 25-12 win over Dade County. GHS lost to Coahulla Creek in the first and third sets (25-21 and 15-10) with a 25-23 win in the second. The Cats were also defeated by Upperman, Tenn., 26-24 and 25-1.
GHS notched a win over North Murray (25-21, 25-22) once seeded before a loss to Grace Baptist, Tenn., 25-19 and 25-10 to claim the silver bracket runner-up trophy.
Cumulative statistics from the day included, aces: McCormick (13), Callihan (seven), Hice and Vaughn (six each) Thompson (three) and Weaver (two). Kills: Callihan (29), McCormick (17), Hice (15), Weaver (11), Thompson (nine) and Vaughn (eight). Assists: Thompson (42) and Vaughn (37).
Also, blocks: Callihan (six), McCormick (five), Vaughn (three) and Thompson and Hice (two each).
Digs: Callihan (35), Vaughn (32), Thompson (24), McCormick (22), Boling (eight), Cain (five), Attebery and Weaver (four each).