NEW MARKET — After a slow start, the Southmont volleyball team re-grouped in the last two games to roll to a 3-1 win over Attica.
The 25-22, 22-25, 25-9 and 25-16 win moves the Mounties to 8-8 on the season and ends a three-games-in-four days marathon.
“We had a slow start,” South coach Erin Barry said, “and then we had a little breakdown in the second set, but to the credit of the team, everybody got back together and started doing the things we do well. They are not always pretty wins, but we will take this one.”
The first two sets were a steady stream of hitting balls into the net or out of bounds - for both teams.
South got a four-point run in the middle of the first set to open up what was an 11-11 score.
Mallory Mason served for four points late in the set to help seal the win.
The second set saw the Red Ramblers lead by as many as six points, when a Brady Spencer five-point rally gave the Mounties the lead back.
That was the end of that, however, as the visitors went on to take the set.
“We just stopped communicating,” Barry said. “It’s what we have to do and usually what we do best.”
But, the squad used the three-minute break to put the wheels back on the Mountie machine, and two strong sets later, fans were heading home.
Dara Watson came to serve with South leading 6-4, and nine points later, the Mounties had a commanding 15-4 lead.
“We got some service points,” Barry noted. “In that third set, we hit a lot better, we obviously served better, we passed better. The girls just put things back together, and they deserve credit for that.”
Tayler Anderson served a five-point run late, and the advantage was back with the home team.
The final set started even, with South leading 9-7 as Anderson came back to the serving line. The senior served a 7-0 run, and the Mounties strung together the points to finish the night and drop Attica to 4-13.
“It’s been a grueling week,” Barry said, “but this is what you need to do heading into the postseason. You will get a lot of multi-set matches in a short time frame, and keeping your focus is important. We lost that focus early, but got it back late, and that was good.”
The Mounties were led by Watson, as the senior had 10 kills. Regan Remley added nine, followed by Chelsea Veatch and Cheyenne Shaw with four each.
Veatch added 11 digs, matched by Anderson, who also had five serve aces. Mason had 24 assists.
Attica was led by Aleah Cruz with four kills and two aces. Adyson Goodwin had three kills.
The Red Ramblers will face another Montgomery County foe on Sept 27, when they play host to North.
The Mounties, after the arduous week, have a couple days to prepare for county and conference rival Crawfordsville, who comes to Bob Tandy Gym next Tuesday.
“It’s Homecoming week,” Barry said, “and it’s Crawfordsville. It will be a big night.”
