By ANDRE MACK-ROBINSON – Sports Writer
The Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team remains undefeated in region play after their win over Salem High School on Sept. 8.
The Clarke Central High School varsity volleyball team competed in a home game against Salem High School in a blowout fashion, winning 25-7 and 25-11.
The Gladiator’s starting lineup was composed of CCHS sophomores Cherien Abou-Harb, Taylor Ford and Abigayle Skinner and seniors Katie Downs, Tamara Jones and Kate Ruston. SHS began the game with the first serve, but the ball flew into the net resulting in the first point for the Gladiators. CCHS returned play, scoring with a four-man serve receive. Jones had a strong start serving eight times with four aces, giving the Gladiators an early advantage of 9-0.
Soon afterwards, Ford contributed with a block and a kill along with Downs who also added an ace. The Seminoles’ only points were scored due to errors by the Gladiators. After an ace by Ruston the score was 19-7. Jones’ finished off with a strong kill to end the set at a final score of 25-7.
“I felt I served pretty well the first set, the team played with great effort and we just needed to close the game out,” Jones said.
At the start of the second set, Jones served the first point on the first possession. Downs chipped in a kill and shortly after Ford
contributed with an ace that gave the Gladiators another early lead. Gaining momentum through the set, CCHS senior Charnetta Croffie made a great defensive play, blocking SHS’s efforts.
Ruston followed up with an ace, causing the Seminoles to call their first timeout in the second set, with the score at 8-3. The Gladiators kept their energy as they carried their success through the timeout with a kill from both Abou-Harb and Croffie. The Gladiators finished off with another ace by Ruston to force another timeout with the score at 12-3. Following the timeout, the Gladiators went on an 8-3 run which was capped off by a Downs’ kill.
Towards the end of the game, CCHS junior Katherine Partida recorded her first kill of the match, bringing the score up to 22-8. The only kill for the Seminoles came with the score at 23-10. Jones’ finished the night with a closing kill to finalize the score at 25-11.
“Even though Salem isn’t a tough opponent in our region, it still feels great to be undefeated in the region but we got to continue to work hard and get better to be region champs,” Jones said.
The Gladiators improved to a 13-7 record and 6-0 in Region 8-AAAA. The Lady Gladiators will host Forest Park High School at 5 p.m. and Apalachee at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 15.
Photos by GABRIELLE SAUPE.
