VEEDERSBURG — Southmont’s serve game set the tone for a Mounties 3-0 volleyball win over Fountain Central.
A total of 19 aces figured prominently in the 25-18, 25-18, 25-14 win as South moves to 3-4 on the season, while FC falls to 2-9.
Natalie Manion led the way, as the senior tallied six aces, giving her a team-best 16 on the season. Sidney Veatch added five.
“Our serving was great tonight,” Mounties coach Laura Nichols said. “The next job is to get consistent. I keep telling everyone how good we can be when we serve well.”
Manion and Veatch topped out other stat charts, as Manion had a game-best 19 digs, while Veatch had a game-high 17 assists. Veatch also had nine digs and six kills.
“They both had great nights,” Nichols said of the seniors. “Dara Watson also had a good night at the net.”
The sophomore’s three blocks were tied for team-best, along with fellow sophomore Makia Pierce.
Kaley Remley’s eight kills was game-best, and the senior now has 70 on the season to lead the Mounties.
“We’ve been struggling to finish points,” Mustangs coach Alyssa Larson said. “We did a lot better job with that tonight. We got more kills and didn’t wait for the other team to make a mistake. We made more things happen, and our setters did a good job tonight getting the ball to spots.”
Marley Massey led FC with 14 digs, while Randi Lindquist had five assists. Lillie Fishero had three assists, two aces ad two kills, while Shelby Marshall had two kills and two aces.
The Mounties rallied from a 6-1 deficit in the first set to win it, including two runs of seven points.
They jumped out to two big leads in the second, only to have the home team rally, getting as close as 21-18. South scored the final four, including two aces.
The final set was tied at 11 but was all South to finish.
“We had good effort and hustle on defense,” Nichols noted. “Not letting balls drop to the floor has been a big focus. We didn’t lose our focus tonight and we continue to grow and learn.”
The Mustangs head to Rossville for a tourney Saturday and are home against Attica next Tuesday, while the Mounties are idle until next Tuesday when they head to Lebanon.
South won the junior varsity match 2-0.
