WITH AN assist from the home fans, East Jackson sent its seniors out in style with a 25-14, 27-25 win over Rabun County.
Coach Tim Thomas noted the high decibel levels resonating throughout the Eagle gym as 12th graders Jamie Beauchamp, Monique Khang, Jill Edmondson, Haley Simmons and Rebekah Poponi played their final home matches.
“What an incredible way to send out a group of seniors,” Thomas said. “It wasn’t just that we won, but the whole atmosphere tonight was just amazing. We had a great turnout of extremely vocal fans. I could barely hear myself think all night.”
Thomas said his Eagle team certainly earned this victory as East Jackson moved to 8-17 overall.
“It’s always great to win, but this was a win the girls could really be proud of,” he said. “Sometimes you get a match given to you because the other team makes too many mistakes, but tonight our girls really earned the win.”
Thomas said Madison Mealor was huge on the net with nine kills, and that Rosie Melendez “finally became the setter we knew she could be” with 10 assists. Others keying in the victory were Poponi (five kills, three aces), Simmons (three kills) and Cate Veggia (four aces, two kills).
“Cate’s serving was about as good as it gets tonight,” Thomas said. “Even when she didn’t manage an ace, her serves were well-placed and were hit so hard that it kept Rabun from setting up their offense.”
Veggia was the team leader in service points with 17.
NOTES: Thomas pointed out that the East Jackson junior varsity “started things off right” with an exciting three-set win.
