CLAYTON – Southmont’s volleyball team saw their dream of a regional championship come to an end on Saturday. The Mounties fell to Northeastern 3-1 in the Class 2A Regional semi-finals however, even though they trailed most of the day, Southmont never quit and fought to the very end.
Southmont (15-15) Coach Erin Barry was happy with the way her team performed on the tournament stage.
“The team fought all day”, Barry said. “They did not give up and I am very impressed how we played today.”
In the first set the Mounties quickly fell behind 7-0 forcing Barry to call a timeout. The Mounties seemed to re-group and Regan Remley recorded her first kill of the day to help stop the bleeding.
Barry said she could tell her team was playing a little tentative to start the match.
“When you get down 7-0 it makes it difficult to come back”, Barry said. “I think nerves got to our team that first step.”
After the timeout, Southmont rallied and actually had the score tied at 16 apiece and as they did later in the set at 21 apiece. However, the Knights won the last four points to win the set 25-21.
The second set was a back and forth affair. Southmont led early until four straight Northeastern points gave the Knights their first lead. Again, it was the Knights who took control of the set by outscoring the Mounties 11-4. The 25-17 set win put the Knights ahead 2-0.
Southmont did not allow the fact that they were behind stop them from coming out and playing their best set of the match. The Mounties maintained a narrow lead and was able to win the set 25-23. Remley again had a kill for the last point.
“I think in the third game our girls showed they were not going to give up,” Barry said. “These girls were really good at pushing themselves. They made the adjustments I asked to make to get the win.”
Northwestern played nearly a flawless fourth set. The Knights controlled the net and methodically carved out a 25-13 win which sent them to the championship game to play Scecina who defeated Park Tudor 3-2 in the tournament’s first game.
Mountie Mallory Mason recorded 32 assists on the day. Chelsea Veatch led the team with 13 kills and Remley recorded 11 kills. Remley’s three aces led the team. Defensive specialist Tayler Anderson had 14 digs.
Barry said her team had nothing to be ashamed of and had had a tremendous season. Last year the squad only one three games and showed the same toughness to win last week’s sectional and finish the season 15-15.
Scecina won the Saturday night championship by defeating Northeastern in three sets.
Six seniors, Brady Spencer, Chelsea Veatch, Regan Remley, Kallie Todd, Dara Watson and Tayler Anderson completed their volleyball careers with the semi-final loss.
“I am proud of all six of the seniors,” Barry said. “To only win three last year and come back to have this kind of season, they should be proud of themselves.”
