Week at the Net: Demonettes host Middle Georgia Schools; HoCo honors eight seniors

Tuesday: Demonettes split matches with West Laurens and Mary Persons.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The Warner Robins Demonettes kept it close in their first match against the West Laurens Lady Raiders, but ultimately fell 25-22 and 25-23.

Both the Lady Raiders and Demonettes allowed many service and passing errors once they received the serve.

They were able to hang close with sets by Ava Sexton and kills by Clair Whitson and middle hitter Georgia Mae Anderson to close the gap.

The Demonettes’ back row provided digs by the libero Katelyn Harris and outside defensive players Anna Grace Tyner.

These strong plays allowed the Demonettes to take the lead and the first one to 20 with a four-point lead.

A Demonettes service error allowed the Lady Raiders to climb closer and after a few side-outs to take the lead over Warner Robins at 22-21 and not look back in the first set.

The Raiders led 23-22 when the Demonettes were able to get the serve back with the Raiders leading 24-22 but the next serve was in the net and allow the Lady Raiders captured the set 25-22.

The second set started much like the first set, and both teams traded the lead throughout.

As service and passing errors occurred, which allowed the Lady Raiders to capture the lead at 23-22, they capped off the serving to capture the set and the match 25-23.

The Demonettes next match was against the Mary Persons Lady Bulldogs, and they took the match 2-1.

The Demonettes’ libero started with crisp passes to Sexton, who setup the outside hitters Whitson, Zaiah Dantes and Elisabeth Stovall.

Middle Blocker Anderson made several blocks down on the Lady Bulldogs side to capture the point.

The Demonettes allowed the Lady Bulldogs to take a five-point lead, and it only came as close as 24-20 before the Lady Bulldogs captured the set.

The Demonettes started strong in the next set to build an 18-12 lead. Whitson provided crucial sets to other hitters like Stovall, Dantes and Mykiah Williams as Sexton was subbed-out as her position moved to the front row.

Again, Anderson, like in the first match provided several blocks along with Sexton and Whitson building the wall at the net.

The Demonettes captured the second set handily at 25-12 and rolled in the final set 15-4 to capture the match over the Lady Bulldogs.

Thursday: Lady Bears Honors Eight Seniors and Sweep Lady Panthers and Demonettes.

The Houston County Lady Bears host a friendly match with both the Perry Lady Panthers and the Demonettes on Thursday.

It was only a friendly match due to schedule conflict with GHSA officials, who were not present.

All though it will not count on records, it was an excellent way to honor the eight HoCo seniors.

HoCo coach Zach Huelsman included all the seniors in the lineup, rotating them throughout the game against the Lady Panthers.

HoCo started the match off strong and led the Lady Panthers 12-5 and did not look back.

Senior libero Jeneal Balbin and setter Harley Tye Mitchell were able to set up Ella Blasche and Ella Curbow to power down kills and tip shots to build the lead.

All eight seniors played a crucial role to win the first set 25-8, not allowing Perry to reach double digits in the set.

HoCo started the second set the same as the first, and captured the match 25-12 over the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Panthers were able to keep it close early trailing 9-6, but HoCo came out firing with strong serves and moving the ball on serve receive not allowing the Lady Panthers to gather any momentum to claw back at the lead.

The second match was between the Demonettes and Lady Panthers, both sets finished extremely close.

The Demonettes won the first the set 25-21 and needed to go into extra points in the second to win 28-26.

Both sets were close early with excellent hitting by the Demonettes and just as impressive saves but Lady Panthers defense with libero Hailee Hudson, Madisyn Gallager, and Emma Smith.

Perry was down 15-10 but snuck back in the set to trail 20-19, but the Demonettes settled down and took care of business.

The Lady Panthers took an early lead in the next set, and started off strong behind serving and saves by the back row and tips and kills by the front row.

Each team rallied throughout, but couldn’t sustain a lead.

The Demonettes needed to stay three extra points in order to cage the Lady Panthers 28-26 to win the match.

The final match after an emotional senior night celebration was between HoCo and the Demonettes.

HoCo started off slow, and the Demonttes stayed close but fell 25-23 in the first set.

HoCo came to their senses in the second, and led 13-6 before taking the set and match 15-12.

UP NEXT

The Demonettes are back in action in a neutral site game against Union Grove on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Start time and location to be announced.

HoCo will face Thomas County Central on Wednesday, Sept. 27 on a neutral site at 5:30 p.m. The location is unavailable at the time of writing.

The Lady Panthers play at Northside on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Then they’ll host a triple-header against Hardaway, Shaw and Westside on Thursday, Sept. 28 to finish the week.

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