Dallas County defeats Demopolis, wins first area title

Published 10:27 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Dallas County’’s Jamerah Smith and Alexis Goodwin try to block a Demopolis’ hit at the net during Tuesday’s class 5A, area 6 championship game at Dallas County High School.  --Daniel Evans

Dallas County’’s Jamerah Smith and Alexis Goodwin try to block a Demopolis’ hit at the net during Tuesday’s class 5A, area 6 championship game at Dallas County High School. –Daniel Evans

PLANTERSVILLE — Dallas County is heading back to the super regional round of the class 5A volleyball playoffs, but this time the Hornets are doing so as area champions.

Dallas County defeated Demopolis 25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 25-15 Tuesday in the class 5A, area 6 championship match, clinching the school’s first ever area championship.

“Every year we’ve come in second place in the area, so that’s why it makes this moment very special because this is the first time we have hosted the area tournament and won the area tournament,” said Dallas County head coach Linda Moore.

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The Hornets won the first two sets of Tuesday’s match by taking control at the midway point and refusing to let the Tigers back into it.

Dallas County trailed 3-0 in the opening game but won 12 of the next 15 points, with many of those coming courtesy of plays at the net by Tyala Bonner and Alexis Goodwin.

The second game was also all Dallas County as the Hornets again rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the match 8-8. From there, Taylor Moore had five straight aces to stretch the lead. Bonner finished off the set with a tip at the net, which fell for another Hornets’ point.

“Believing in themselves,” Moore said. “That was the key.”

Demopolis refused to go down that easily and came into the third set with a renewed energy. The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead and Dallas County struggled to get back into it. An ace by Jamerah Smith pulled the Hornets within 19-16, but Dallas County struggled to get the ball back over the net on the next couple of plays and lost the set by seven.

“I told them to relax and just remember that the [match] is not over, that they need to go back to basics and work hard,” Moore said.

Dallas County led 5-4 early in the fourth set before seizing control with 11 straight points. Keyondra Fletcher served for four aces and her defense helped her keep the ball as the Hornets built a 16-4 lead.

The Tigers rallied as close as 17-10, but couldn’t overcome the big deficit.

When a final serve by Demopolis went into the net, the Hornets jumped up and down in celebration.

This is the sixth year of Dallas County’s volleyball program but the school had never won a regular season area title, hosted the area tournament or won the area tournament before this season.

“I’m very proud of them for all they have accomplished this year,” Moore said. “This goes all the way back to when we started working out in June at CrossFit. They worked hard. They deserve this. Nobody gave it to them; they worked hard for it. I’m proud of each one of the girls.”

Before playing in the area final Tuesday, Dallas County had to defeat Sumter Central and Demopolis had to get past Wilcox Central. Both teams did so in three-set wins.

Playing in front of an in-school crowd, Dallas County defeated the Jaguars 25-15, 25-7, 25-12.

Demopolis didn’t have much trouble either, defeating Wilcox Central 25-19, 25-8, 25-6.

Both teams will move on to the sub-regional round of the playoffs at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. The Tigers will play at 10:45 a.m. while Dallas County will play at 12:45 p.m.

Dallas County will face Tallassee while Demopolis will take on Alabama Christian.

Moore is hoping the afternoon time slot might help her team.

“Every time we’ve made it to super regionals, we’ve played either the last game of the night or second to last game of the night,” Moore said. “So, playing in the middle of the day, I’m hoping that’s an advantage for us.”

Last season, Dallas County lost in the sub-regional round of the playoffs to Rehobeth.

The school has never won a match in the sub-regional round, Moore said.