Junior varsity Wildcats defeat Hayti

Waiting for the serve from the Hayti Indians are Cooter varsity players (from left) Savannah Edwards, Brooke Cameron and Kennedy Howard.

The Cooter Wildcats hosted the Hayti Indians for a pair of volleyball games Thursday night, Sept. 21, with a split going into the record books. In the first game, the junior varsity Lady ‘Cats beat Hayti in three sets, 25-18, 23-25, 25-16. Cooter’s varsity squad did not fare as well, falling to the Lady Indians in straight sets, 25-12, 25-23.

The junior varsity game started as a close contest, until about mid-set, when Cooter pulled away. Madison Barnes recorded Cooter’s first kill of the set to make the score 3-2 in favor of Hayti. Then, with the game tied at six apiece, Barnes smashed a fierce ace to give the Lady Wildcats a 7-6 lead. Hayti bounced right back and knotted the game at seven all.

Brittany Smith delivered a power spike for the kill to put Cooter up by two points, 11-9. Aylena Serrano then took charge of her serves, helping Cooter ring up six straight points, which included one ace. Cameron Snider fired off a couple of aces, giving the Lady ‘Cats a cushiony 22-12 lead. At the net, Grace Cagle showed some strength with a block for a kill.

Working the floor in the JV’s win over Hayti are Wildcats (from left) Halle Dudley, Hallie Robinson, Madison Barnes and Cameron Snider.

The second set saw Hayti begin strong, but Cooter rallied back to tie the score at 16. Leading the comeback was Madison Barnes with a pair of attacks at the net for kills. Lauryn Murphy belted an ace, and Hallie Robinson had an acrobatic attack for the kill. Barnes hand-delivered another ace. Serving next for Cooter was Halle Dudley, who helped keep the score close for the Wildcats.

With the score knotted at 17, Hayti sent a string of aces over the net, challenging Cooter for the second-set win. Hayti went up by one point, 23-22, when Halle Dudley attacked at the net for the kill, putting the score at 23 apiece. However, Hayti held on for the two-point set win.

The JV Wildcats got back on track in the third set, although Hayti remained within striking distance for much of the game. Barnes was on the attack again with a stout, two-handed kill. Cameron Snider and Lauryn Murphy blasted an ace each, as Halle Dudley scored again. Dudley also slammed a couple of more aces, and Barnes served up another ace of her own. Aylena Serrano recorded the final kill for Cooter, giving the set and match victory to the Lady ‘Cats.

Leading the Wildcats in aces and kills in the varsity game were Savannah Edwards, Lauribeth Childers and Hannah Williamson. Madison Barnes, Mikal Garrett and Sydney Chidester also had an ace for Cooter.