Central shades Lionettes in 6-AA showdown

photo Central's Skylar Wolfe (2) hits a point winning shot between Red Bank defenders Marjorie Smith (3) and Jasmine Simpson Thursday on the way to a 3-1 win over the Lady Lions.

To hear the coaches tell it, both Central and Red Bank expected a hotly contested volleyball match Thursday at Central in their District 6-AA high school match, and neither disappointed.

However, that meant one team would leave disappointed. It wasn't Central, which defeated the Lionettes 3-1. Set scores were 25-23, 23-25, 28-26, 25-20.

That leaves Central (13-9, 3-0) and Hixson (3-0) as the last remaining district unbeaten teams, and they play Tuesday at Central.

"This just sets the tone for what we can do," Central first-year coach Jeff Baughman said.

Red Bank (13-10, 3-1) scored the first four points Thursday, and not many runs on the day were much longer for either team. The largest lead in the match was six points for each team. The Lionettes led by that many three times in the second set, and the Lady Purple Pounders' apex was at 18-12 in the third.

Each of the first three sets had scores of 23-23. The fourth was 20-20 before Central got hot behind Skylar Wolfe's serve and closed it out.

"We came over here needing to make a statement," Red Bank coach Mandi Munn said. "You lose that first set and you end up putting yourself in a hole.

"We knew it was going to be tough. Just another couple of balls or another couple of calls didn't go our way. I think both sides played well enough to win. It was just the way the ball fell tonight."

The impact of rallying to win the first set wasn't lost on Baughman, who noted his squad is smaller and the lineup has changed from the beginning of the season.

"As a team we've had a lot to overcome -- some unexpected hurdles the past three weeks," Baughman said. "We've been working to overcome those hurdles. Tonight went a long way in helping. It's like we've been in a rebuilding situation. I think we're on the other side of the obstacles now."

Central had two dominating hitters in Rebekah Hill, who had 24 kills, and Wolfe, who had 20 kills and added three aces. Hill also led in digs with 15, and Adrian McClurg was the blocks leader with four. Lexie Ainslie set 36 assists.

Conversely at the net for Red Bank, five players had at least four kills each, led by six apiece from Allison Walker and Marjorie Smith. Janie Smith contributed four blocks and libero Hannah Wilson totaled 36 digs and three aces. Rachel Thornbury and Megan Paradis each chipped in with six assists.

Red Bank won 3-2 in an early-season meeting that did not count in the district standings. Munn knows the teams could meet again in the district tournament early next month.

"This is just for seeding purposes," Munn said. "Everything before the tournament is just practice that gets you better. The tournament is what counts."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.

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