After posting three victories in a home play date over the weekend, Jefferson (14-4, 4-0) put two more notches in the win column Tuesday with sub-area victories over Lakeview Academy and Tallulah Falls in Gainesville.
The Dragons play today (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. against Buford and West Hall at West Hall.
Jefferson bested Lakeview in a three-game match 19-25, 25-20, 25-12 behind 12 aces and three kills from Cassie Metcalf, 13 kills from Taylor Cramsey and 12 kills from Eden Starnes. Amanda Daniel had 17 assists while Sarah Wood had three assists and four kills.
In the second match, the Dragons downed Tallulah Falls 27-25, 25-8. Metcalf had three aces and three kills, Daniel finished with 14 assists and Cramsey had six kills in seven attempts. Other statistical leaders were Starnes, who had two aces and a kill, and Wood, who added four aces, six kills and one assist.
Savannah Bogue and Brianna Patterson “played well in the back row,” in both matches according to coach Mike Paul.
In the play date three days earlier, Jefferson (12-4, 2-0) finished 3-1 on its home floor.
Jefferson started with a 25-8, 25-20 victory over Winder-Barrow (Class AAAA), beat no. 9 ranked West Hall (Class AAA), 25-18, 25-17, fell to Class AAAA 25-23, 25-22 and finished with a 25-23, 25-12 victory over Walnut Grove.
“Overall we had a very good day and it was nice to finally get to play in our own gym,” Paul said. “I am very proud of our improvement in many areas.”
Statistical leaders were Metcalf (18 aces, 19 kills), Daniel (four aces, five kills, 55 assists), Cramsey (five aces, 27 kills), Starnes (one ace, 15 kills), Wood (two aces, 10 kills, eight assists), Bogue (one ace), Savanna Holland (four kills), Patterson (nine aces), Chelsea Runkei (two aces) and Amanda Flowers (one ace).
Against Winder-Barrow, Paul noted that Patterson’s serving sparked the team in game one (25-8) and gutted out a victory in game two (25-20).
“(We) showed real character coming from behind to win the second game,” Paul said.
The coach noted his team’s resolve in knocking off West Hall in the second match.
“We entered the match inspired and played with an attitude that we would not be denied,” Paul said.
Cassie Metcalf led the Dragons with seven kills and six aces for the match.
Paul likened his team’s close loss to Apalachee in match three to slugfest.
“It was like a heavy weight fight with the two going toe to toe in the center ring,” he said. “Each team took their best shots at the other. Apalachee played very well and the Lady Dragons fought very hard but came up just a little short.”
Jefferson overcame a sluggish first game against Walnut Grove in the final match (after trailing 14-8), rallying to win the first frame and wining the second handily.
Prior to the play date, Jefferson went on the road to earn its ninth win with a 25-9, 25-17 victory over Rabun County.
Paul said Jefferson had its “best night of the season passing and this led to a balanced attack.”
The Dragons tallied 13 aces, with Starnes leading the way with five. Cramsey had nine kills on her way to a .750 hitting percentage, while Metcalf had seven kills with a percentage of .700. Starnes added four kills and Daniel had 19 assists and Sara Wood had three.
Bogue came off the bench as the libero and had her best night passing and recorded a service ace, according to Paul.
“I was very pleased with our performance against Rabun County,” Paul said. ”We were focused and our play showed it.”
