NewsAthleticsUpper School
Varsity volleyball team defends Area title
Nov 3, 2006 3:20 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington's varsity girls volleyball team defended their Area 6AA/A title this year, downing Gordon Lee 24-26, 25-8, 25-20, 25-12.
The Lady Tigers entered the Area finals as the No. 2 seed after top-seeded Gordon Lee handed them their lone loss earlier in October.
Early on, it looked as though history would repeat itself as the Lady Trojans battled back from a 17-11 deficit in game one to claim a 26-24 win.
"I got a little incensed after that first game," said head coach Jim Linos. "I said a few words, then turned it over to my captains. They did a great job of calming everyone down, including me. That's what a senior-led group is supposed to do, and they really came through."
Darlington secured a 10-5 lead in game two after a pair of aces by senior Polly Roberts. This extended the lead to 14-8 when two kills, one each by seniors Alicia Wright and Michelle-Marie Picon, sparked a run of 11 straight points to tie the match at a game apiece.
This momentum carried over to the next two games. Darlington led 11-10 in game three before a run of five straight points gave the Lady Tigers control. Senior Elexene Mattingly collected four of the points on kills while Roberts added an ace.
Then in the final game, Wright, who was named the 6AA/A Player of the Year for the second consecutive year before the final match, took over. She hammered down four kills and had two big blocks down the stretch as Darlington sealed the win.
"It's amazing," Linos said. "This is as good as it gets right now for these girls. It's a beautiful thing for the seniors especially."
Unfortunately, the team's run ended in the State AA/A Sectionals Oct. 28 at Holy Innocents' in Atlanta. After making it to the Sweet 16 with a straight-set win over Callaway, the Lady Tigers were handed a 3-1 loss by Greater Atlanta Christian and eliminated from the postseason.
"I'm proud of them," said Linos. "We started this season with a lot of inexperience and ended it with an Area championship and 33 wins."
Information compiled from Oct. 20 and Oct. 29 Rome News-Tribune articles.
The Lady Tigers entered the Area finals as the No. 2 seed after top-seeded Gordon Lee handed them their lone loss earlier in October.
Early on, it looked as though history would repeat itself as the Lady Trojans battled back from a 17-11 deficit in game one to claim a 26-24 win.
"I got a little incensed after that first game," said head coach Jim Linos. "I said a few words, then turned it over to my captains. They did a great job of calming everyone down, including me. That's what a senior-led group is supposed to do, and they really came through."
Darlington secured a 10-5 lead in game two after a pair of aces by senior Polly Roberts. This extended the lead to 14-8 when two kills, one each by seniors Alicia Wright and Michelle-Marie Picon, sparked a run of 11 straight points to tie the match at a game apiece.
This momentum carried over to the next two games. Darlington led 11-10 in game three before a run of five straight points gave the Lady Tigers control. Senior Elexene Mattingly collected four of the points on kills while Roberts added an ace.
Then in the final game, Wright, who was named the 6AA/A Player of the Year for the second consecutive year before the final match, took over. She hammered down four kills and had two big blocks down the stretch as Darlington sealed the win.
"It's amazing," Linos said. "This is as good as it gets right now for these girls. It's a beautiful thing for the seniors especially."
Unfortunately, the team's run ended in the State AA/A Sectionals Oct. 28 at Holy Innocents' in Atlanta. After making it to the Sweet 16 with a straight-set win over Callaway, the Lady Tigers were handed a 3-1 loss by Greater Atlanta Christian and eliminated from the postseason.
"I'm proud of them," said Linos. "We started this season with a lot of inexperience and ended it with an Area championship and 33 wins."
Information compiled from Oct. 20 and Oct. 29 Rome News-Tribune articles.
