Hartselle rallies to make semifinals
PELHAM – Hartselle’s volleyball team overcame a two-set deficit to beat Faith Academy 3-2 (25-27, 23-25, 25-13, 25-19, 15-8) in the AHSAA Elite Eight at the Pelham Civic Complex.
With the win, Hartselle (52-10) will play top-ranked St. Paul’s (50-10), who swept Brewer (25-20) earlier today, in the semifinals today at 7 p.m.
Hartselle coach Tanya Lybarger said her team was a little nervous to begin the match. She said her teams had been watching a number of sports movies of how they overcame adversity prior to Wednesday’s match.
“When we got down two games, I asked them if they knew how to lose, and they answered ‘no,’” Lybarger said. “Then I said, ‘go out and show me,’ and they did. They really stepped up in that third game and we rode the momentum of that third game for the next two games.”
The Lady Tigers trailed 24-18 before battling back to tie the match at 24. However, Faith Academy made plays down the stretch to take the first game.
The second game was similar as Faith Academy held the lead the entire game and won 25-23. During those early games, the Lady Rams were paced by Jamelia Grandberry and Royce Smith whose power gave Hartselle trouble early on.
Hartselle set the tempo of that third game by taking a quick 5-0 lead, forcing a Faith Academy timeout. The closest it would get was 8-6 from that point. The Lady Tigers captured the momentum by winning the final eight points of the game to take the game 25-13.
Faith Academy appeared to be in control of the third game as the Lady Rams led 10-7, but Hartselle stormed back winning six straight points to lead 13-10. Faith Academy tied it up at 19, but Hartselle took the last six points of the game to even the match thanks in part to Kaylee Shelton and Taylor Lybarger kills down the stretch.
The third game was back and forth and Faith Academy led 7-6. From there, Hartselle took control winning nine of the next 10 points to win the fifth game 15-8.
Olivia Golden led the team with 17 kills and 23 digs, including three kills in the final game. Savanne Howard had 30 assists. Katelyn Hill had nine kills and seven digs.
