THE ADISON AND HALLE SHOW: Southwestern takes down Somerset Christian in four sets

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern senior Adison Black (24) attempts to spike the ball past the block of Somerset Christian junior Emma Grace Warren (12) and sophomore Caroline Mounce (2) during the Warriors' 3-1 win over the Cougars on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024.

SOMERSET - It was a volleyball Thursday at the Cougar Den, as Somerset Christian, winners of five straight, took on Southwestern, winners of six of their last seven contests. In a district typically dominated as of recent years by the Warriors, the Lady Cougars controlled it last season and beat the Warriors all three times while only surrendering one set to their rivals. However, as the old adage goes, that was then and this is now.

Southwestern quickly raced out to a 2-0 lead in the game following incredible hitting performances by seniors Halle Norvell and Adison Black. However, after an impressive showing in the third set, everything seemed to be going the Cougars way and their home gym was rocking. It looked like Somerset Christian was going to send it to a fifth and deciding set before the Warriors came alive late in the fourth, taking home a 3-1 (25-17, 25-17, 14-25, 25-23) win.

An attacking error by the Cougars on the first serve gave the Warriors the quick lead in the first set, with a kill from Black, an ace from Norvell and a block by Chloe Mabe quickly getting the visitors out to a 5-0 lead. A kill from Sara Tucker finally put Somerset Christian on the board, but the home team was forced to take an early timeout after their opponents went up 8-2. Somerset Christian attempted to battle back following the quick rest though, as a kill from Catherine Hardy, a block from Elise Meggs and an ace from Sophia Barnett got the Cougars within four points at 13-9.

A push from Norvell to the deep corner put the Warriors to 15 points before three kills from Black put them on top 18-12. Soon, the Cougars were forced to call another timeout facing a seven-point deficit late in the set. Kills from Hardy and Tucker kept them competitive, but there was ultimately too much solid hitting from the front line of the Warriors, as a kill from Black gave Southwestern a 25-17 first set win.

Norvell started out the second set with two straight aces, before a Cougar fight back with a kill and two straight aces from Barnett gave them their first lead of the contest. Again the power hitting from Norvell and Black put the Warriors right back in the lead however. Norvell, especially, took over in the middle of the set, having multiple kills, a block and an ace to give her team a 16-12 edge. A block from Mabe later, and head coach of the Cougars LaDawna Tucker was soon calling for a timeout.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Several Somerset Christian players react after going for the ball during the Cougars' loss to Southwestern on Thursday.

Selah Scicchitano had a remarkably dig that earned her team a point straight out of the timeout. An ace from Caroline Mounce put the Cougars down by just two points late in the set before once again, the visitors took over. After a block from Andrea West, a kill from Mabe and a set-winning kill from Norvell put the Warriors over the top as they took home the second set 25-17.

Everything was seemingly going right for the Warriors, at least entering the third set. However, it was all Somerset Christian in the early goings here as multiple kills from Sara Tucker and a block from Emma Grace Warren put the home team up 10-1 in nearly a blink of an eye, with the Cougar Den becoming unglued with excitement. An ace from Mabe as well as two straight aces from Aaliyah Lawler calmed things down a bit though and forced Somerset Christian to take a break.

Two straight kills from Norvell got the Warriors within two points midway through the set and it seemed like the visitors were desperately trying to close this thing out in straight sets. A string of three straight aces from Scicchitano got the crowd awakened again and soon the Cougars were up by eight points late. It was all Cougars by this point and it didn't take them long to clean up the set, as following a kill and two straight aces from Barnett, an attacking error on the Warriors handed the third set to the home team 25-14.

Things were much more even to start off the fourth set, as Somerset Christian was clearly riding the wave of support coming from their home crowd. A kill from Hardy started the set off nicely for the home team, before Black came back immediately with two straight kills. The teams traded points until a kill from Hardy and yet another ace from Barnett tied things up 10-10, forcing Southwestern head coach Mitzi Jones to call timeout. Neither team could get much space until another two straight kills from Black put the Warriors up 16-14 midway through, forcing Somerset Christian to this time call for a break.

It was looking bleak late for the home team, as following a block from Norvell the Warriors found themselves on top 20-16, needing just five points for the victory. Did the Cougars give up? Absolutely not, as they fought back and after an ace from Scicchitano, a kill from Barnett and a block from Hardy, the game was tied right back up at 20-20.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern senior Megan Loudermilk (5) attempts to earn a kill past the block of Somerset Christian freshman Selah Scicchitano (7) and junior Emma Grace Warren (12) during the game between the Warriors and the Lady Cougars on Thursday night.

An ace from Scicchitano forced a Southwestern timeout, and likewise a kill from Mabe forced a Somerset Christian timeout as the teams were basically playing a game of chess at this point. Kills from Hardy and Tucker put the Cougars just two points away from forcing the fifth set, but the Warriors closed the contest on a 4-0 mini spree, with who else but Black spiking down the game-winning kill, to take home the 3-1 victory over their rivals with their 25-23 fourth set win. Jones was frank about her team following the win.

"We are really bad about letting up on the gas once we are ahead. However, when we are in system, with hitters like Chloe, Halle and Adison, we are a really good volleyball team," she stated.

Southwestern was led by a combined 36 kills from their top three players, with Black leading the way with 15 kills and Norvell adding 14 kills and five aces. The Warriors improve to 12-6 and will be back in action on Saturday against some good competition, as they will host both Cooper and Madison Central.

Somerset Christian was led by Tucker with 10 kills, with Barnett adding eight kills and seven aces and Hardy chipping in six kills and four blocks. The Lady Cougars fall to 9-4 and will next host Russell County on Tuesday.

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