Volley Hounds show plenty of grit in region opener

VOLLEYBALL

  • Kamryn Hardwick serves the ball up and over the net against Eagles Landing. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Kamryn Hardwick serves the ball up and over the net against Eagles Landing. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
  • Nya Warren elevates to slam the ball over the net during last week’s region match against Eagles Landing. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Nya Warren elevates to slam the ball over the net during last week’s region match against Eagles Landing. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

    WARNER ROBINS - There was no shortage of grit and moxie last Tuesday when the Volley Hounds took on Eagles Landing and Warner Robins.

    Leading and drawing even in sets that teetered back and forth, Jones County fought to get into position to win each time, ultimately coming up short losing 25-16 and 25-18 to Eagles Landing. In the nightcap against Warner Robins, JCHS dropped a pair of close 25-22 decisions.

    The Warner Robins match carried an additional level of having to adjust as it began after 8 p.m., following a wait of more than an hour with Warner Robins and Eagles Landing playing one another.

    “They were tired and worked really hard to hype themselves up,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Kim Hanner said. “They did a really good job.”

    Jones County led 3-0 and 7-3 in the first set against the Demons before Warner Robins would tie the score 9-9 and lead 11-9. Lyndsie Hanner put the Lady Hounds up 18-15 with Arleigh Henderson adding to it at the serve as JCHS went up 21-18 before Warner Robins won 25-22.

    “We’ve got to work on our serve receive. We have some things we are putting in place to work on our back row,” Hanner said. “I think we’re making progress; it’s just kind of up and down.”

    Jones County had similar surges in the second set, going ahead 11-9 following serve points by Pressley Vinson. The Lady Hounds led 17-13 following a Nya Warren serve before the Demons rallied to win 25-22.

    Against Eagles Landing, Jones County lost the first set 25-16 after battling to tie it 10-10 early. In the second set, Jones County rallied from trailing 4-0 early to tie it at 17 before Eagles Landing won it 25-18.

    “They’re still young and the level of experience is not what other teams have,” Hanner said. “There are just so many little things (that come into play).”

    Jones County is scheduled to host a tri-match on Thursday against FPD and Calvary Christian with the next home region match on Sept. 26 against Union Grove.

    Jones County swept both of its JV matches last week against Warner Robins and Eagles Landing, beating the Demons 25-18 and 25-14 and 25-17 and 25-16 against Eagles Landing.