NEW MARKET — Southmont volleyball entered the post-season with new life. The Mounties hosted the Class 2A Sectional 44 tournament. Thursday the Mounties got sectional play started with a re-match against South Putnam a team they beaten in four sets earlier this season. This time Southmont wouldn’t be so fortunate as the Eagles ended the Mounties season with a three set win 25-22, 27-25, 25-14.
It proved to be a battle all night long between the two teams with both teams giving it their all with their seasons on the line. The Mounties did face a lineup a change which they weren’t used to as freshman Layla Gomez was unavailable due to a thumb injury.
“We knew having this new lineup was going to be a challenge,” Southmont coach Erin Barry said. “I have to give South Putnam a ton of credit because they got to every ball. Everything we tried to do they were able to find some way to get to it. It kept us out of sync just enough. When we executed what we wanted to do and it looked like we were going to get the point, they’d pop it right back up. That’s how volleyball goes, sometimes it’s just not your night.”
To the Mounties credit however, with it being the post-season and a win-or-go-home, they too hustled to every single ball and were diving all over the court. It’s something that Barry noticed right away from her team in the very first set and made sure her team knew they gave it their all.
“That’s the first thing I told the girls is that they never gave up and busted their tails off,” Barry added. “They worked extremely hard and as coaches that all we can ask for. We had a couple of girls in new places tonight and it didn’t matter because they all played so hard.”
DeLorean Mason led the way for the Mounties with 10 kills in the season-ending loss. Catie Himes added seven. Mallory Mason had 20 assists. Both Jenna Grino and DeLorean each had over 20 digs as well.
The Mounties graduate two seniors in DeLorean and Cheyenne Shaw. When a season comes to an end, it’s always tough to say goodbye to the seniors and Barry noted how both of them have been tremendous players and leaders for the team.
“DeLo and Chey have been our backbone all season long,” she said Mason and Shaw. “They’ve led vocally whether that be in practice or in games and also lead by example. I know we’re going to miss them for sure. The rest of this team is going to come back with a year of varsity volleyball under their belts in relatively the same positions. Coming into this year not many girls had that experience. We’re hoping to build off of this year as we look forward to next season.”
Southmont ends its 2023 season with a 10-18 record.
South Putnam advances to the semi-finals on Saturday where they’ll take on Riverton Parke. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday night at 6 pm.
