Lady Senators open strong
After back to back Sectional Championships people might think that the Lady Senator Volleyball team is in rebuilding mode.
However, it seems as if the team from Norris Middle is just reloading as they race out to a 4-0 start on the 2018 season.
The Lady Senators opened their season with a resounding road win against Clinton Middle School winning in two sets 25-8, 25-15.
Leading the way for the Lady Senators was seventh grader Emma Neff with 10 points and two aces. Eighth grade libero (defensive specialist) Anna Kay Smith chipped in six points and three aces while Eberly Mayes and Nike Edmondson served for six points each.
The Lady Senators then travelled to Lafollette Middle School where they dominated a determined Lafollette team 25-12, 25-12.
Once again Nike Edmondson led the way for the Lady Senators with nine points and five aces while Emma Neff chipped in eight points and three aces. Kayla Humphrey and Emily Mustard scored three points and two aces to round out the balanced attach from NMS.
A visit to Jacksboro for their next match brought a challenge to the young team from Norris as they faced an undefeated Jacksboro Middle School team. The NMS team raced out to a 9-4 lead in the extreme heat of the un-air conditioned gym.
A huge serve run of 10 straight points turned the set for Jacksboro as they cruised to a 25-18 victory in set one.
Norris was not about to concede the victory to Jacksboro on this night. While the referee seemed to be suffering from heatstroke, NMS setter Eberly Mayes was not phased as she started set number two with an ace and three points. Norris led 7-2 when Jacksboro tried to rally by calling a timeout, however, the Lady Senator serving was too much for Jacksboro as the fell in the second set 25-19 setting up the decisive third set to 15 points.
Norris’ Eberly Mayes once again started the Lady Senators out right way 3 straight aces as NMS vaulted out to a 6-1 lead. Jacksboro called a timeout and rallied to tie the set at 7-7.
That’s when NMS eighth grader Kayla Humphrey went on a serving run of four points, two of which were aces to bring the Senator lead to 12-7. Norris then cruised to their third victory of the season winning the set 15-10.
Aug. 23 found the Lady Senators playing their first home match against an improved team from Clinton Middle School.
Norris won the first set even though they missed four serves giving CMS four free points.
The second set, NMS continued to struggle both in serving missing four more serves and serve receive as CMS jumped out to an 8-1 lead. NMS battled back with key points from Emily Mustard and Emma Neff to close the score to 20-16.
Once again, Kayla Humphrey led a furious attack of the Lady Senators as she served 6 straight points including an ace to bring the Lady Senators to the brink of victory 24-20.
After a side out and service point, Norris’ Nike Edmondson ended the match with a kill off the Eberly Mayes set.
The victory brought the Lady Senators to a perfect 4-0 record for the season.
This week, NMS faces the rest of its district foes including Jefferson, Robertsville, and Horace Maynard.