Weeks after thriller, Hornets have easier time versus Selma
Published 10:21 pm Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Dallas County’s Tyala Bonner hits a return shot as Selma’s Ka’nesha McGraw, middle, and Brittany Johnson, right, try to block the ball. –Daniel Evans
PLANTERSVILLE — In mid-September, Dallas County (14-5) defeated Selma (5-13) in a back-and-forth five set match in which both teams played some of their best volleyball of the year.
The teams met again Tuesday in Plantersville, but the result couldn’t have been more different.
Dallas County swept the Saints 25-11, 25-19, 25-13 in a dominant showing that signifies just how far the Hornets have come since their first match with Selma. Dallas County has already locked up the class 5A, area 6 regular season championship, but looked far from a team with nothing to play for Tuesday.
“This was our 16th match in two weeks, so the girls they have the stamina, they’ve played a lot of good competition, and this was [more] good competition,” said Dallas County head coach Linda Moore. “We’ve come a long way since we last played Selma High.”
The Hornets rarely trailed Tuesday and when they did, it wasn’t for long.
Dallas County opened up a 14-3 lead in the first set behind serving from Taylor Moore and Brittney Brown.
The Saints closed the gap, but four kills by Alexis Goodwin helped put the set away.
“Our ball control was very good today,” Moore said. “It was the best that we’ve seen all year.”
The Saints took a quick 3-0 lead in the second set, but Dallas County scored the next eight points behind serving from Jamerah Smith. Even when the Saints pulled within 18-15, Dallas County stood its ground.
Consecutive aces by Keondra Fletcher gave the Hornets’ some breathing room and Lindsey McIlwain’s kills at the net put the second game away.
“I told them we didn’t come with our A-game, we had a C game, a C-minus,” said Selma head coach Melissa White.
In the third set, Dallas County again took an early lead. The Hornets were up 14-5 before the Saints worked their way back into it, but by that time it was far too late.
Goodwin won several points at the net and two aces by Moore helped put it away.
“We want to compete and it was kind of disappointing that we didn’t give [coach Moore] a better ball game as we did when we were at Selma High,” White said.
Both teams will be at home on Thursday.
Dallas County will host Sumter Central in its final area contest, while Selma will take on Billingsley.
