Lady Senators play in sectionals
The Norris Middle School Lady Senator Volleyball Team joined seven other East Tennessee teams in the TMSAA Sectional Tournament this past Saturday at Anderson County High School. The Lady Senators started pool play at 8:30 a.m. with a match against Sevierville Middle School. The Lady Cubs were no match for the serving power of Norris as the Lady Senators cruised to a straight set victory 25-14, 25-15. Kayla Humphrey, Emily Mustard, and Anna Kay Smith each had 5 aces and Eberly Mayes served up three aces and nine points.
Next for the team from Norris was Liberty Bell Middle School the Area 1 Runner-up. The Lady Senators played their best volleyball of the season taking the first set 25-22. Liberty Bell bounced back in set 2 to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-15 victory.
With the match tied at one set each, the decisive 3rd set was an epic battle with 3 ties and 3 lead changes. Norris leaped out to a 4-2 lead and an early Liberty Bell time out.
The team from Kingsport then surged ahead 9-4 before Emily Mustard scored for Norris. Liberty Bell answered with a 4 point run to lead 13-6.
The girls from Norris were not about to give up and on the tough serving of Eberly Mayes and the stellar net play of Emma Neff and Kyra Damewood, Norris pulled to 11-13. Just when it seemed the momentum had shifted to Norris, they made a service error and Liberty served point 15 to win the match.
In what would be the final match of Norris’ season they played a must-win match against Colonial Heights from Johnson City. Norris dominated early racking up a 10-3 lead and forcing Colonial to call a timeout.
The timeout didn’t stop the Senator assault as Norris continued to score mounting a 13-4 lead.
With the first set well at hand, Norris relaxed a little and Colonial Height began a serving barrage of epic proportions ripping off two 4 point service runs.
Norris countered with 3 point run of their own to lead 20-15 but then another missed serve gave Colonial a chance for their own service run and run they did scoring 5 points and 2 aces. Norris called their last timeout but couldn’t slow the team from Johnson City as they edged Norris 25-22.
Set number two was never in doubt as Colonial Heights continued their service attack on Norris with scoring runs of four points and nine points. The Lady Senators were plagued with unforced errors and gave their opponent point after point finally succumbing 25-10.
Norris finished its season with a 14-9 record just short of the Sectional Semi-finals. The loss marks the first time since Sectional Play was added that the Lady Senators failed to make the Sectional Finals. Liberty Bell was defeated by Greeneville Middle School in 3 sets to win the Sectional Title.