Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Sometimes the Coal Grove Lady Hornets can be slow starters. Fortunately, the can sometimes be fast finishers.
After losing two of the first three sets, the Lady Hornets came to life and won the next two sets to get the non-league win.
Coal Grove won 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 25-9 and 15-12 in the tiebreaker.
“We came out playing flat but finally turned it on to get the win,” said Lady Hornets 15-year veteran head coach Trish Damron.
“When you have a floor of athletes on the court and there are not playing to their potential, things can get very frustrating. Once I reminded these ladies they pulled it together and started playing.”
Kaleigh Murphy led the Lady Hornets as she got 17 points with seven aces to go with five kills and eight digs.
“Kaleigh Murphy had a fantatic serving night,” said Damron.
Also turning in a big performance was Rylee Harmon with 14 points, nine kills and five blocks.
Jaidyn Griffith had 14 points and four kills, Maddy Runyon 14 points, Addi Dillow racked up 15 kills and Mikayla Daniels 10 kills while Halley Booth had 11 points, four aces and an amazing 34 assists.
“As a coach of volleyball now for 15 years watching players go out on a court night after night and playing to their potential has to be one of the most frustrating things for a coach,” said Damron.
“I told them you chose to be here now, so play like you want to be here or get out. Well, they obviously listened.”
In the reserve game, Coal Grove won in three sets, 19-25, 25-18 and 25-23.
Jaycee Jenkins had 15 points with six aces and Kennedy Keaton nine points for the Lady Hornets.