Grace Christian Academy volleyball coach Erwin Harrell said he was pleased with the Lady Cougars’ win over First Presbyterian Christian Academy Thursday, especially after not having touched a volleyball since last Friday.
Fall break combined with a bleacher renovation inside GCA’s gym put the team out of practice. Yet the team played like they had been working all week.
The Lady Cougars won all three sets against the Highlanders, going 25-9, 25-11 and 25-7.
“We haven’t touched a volleyball since last Friday,” Harrell said. “So I thought with that in mind they played well.”
The Lady Cougars have clinched third place is GISA Region 2 with a 9-5 season record (4-4 in region).
Junior Kelsey Harrell led the team in kills with eight. Harrell brought an intensity and power to her hits that was difficult for the Highlanders to match.
Perra Harrell was perfect on serves, going 7-of-7 for 100 percent. Kelsey was 14-of-15 for 93 percent, six of them being aces. Lindsey Duke was 25-of-27, also for 93 percent and had nine aces.
Sarah Castoro had five digs, McKenzie Brown had three blocks and Duke had 16 assists.
“I think the second set we kind of let up a little bit there,” Harrell said about his players’ concentration and focus. “But in the third set we came out strong and played Lady Cougar volleyball, so I was proud of that.”
The win marks the final region match for the Lady Cougars this season and places them in third place. Harrell said the last three matches against non-region opponents would be good practice for the state championship later this month.
“I’m pleased to be where we’re at,” Harrell said.