Saks knows the way
- Updated: October 21, 2016
Calhoun County sent 10 teams to the Super Regionals this weekend, six have punched tickets to the Elite Eight
By East Alabama Sports Today
MONTGOMERY – It may have taken a different route this year, but the Saks volleyball team is going back to the volleyball Elite Eight after winning two matches in the Class 4A South Super Regional Friday.
The Lady Wildcats defeated Ashford 3-0 (25-7, 25-5, 25-13) and Hale County 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-5) to secure a spot in the Crossplex field.
They will play for their seeding in the championship round at the Cramton Bowl Multiplex Saturday.
“We’re very excited,” Saks coach Randy Law said. “We didn’t play very well. They (Hale County) were really scrappy and we made a lot of mistakes, but like I told the girls, I’d rather win ugly than lose ugly.
“It was just exciting. I told them we did what last year’s team did. Nobody thought we’d be where we are losing what we lost, but we’re happy with what we’ve accomplished.”
The Lady Wildcats (32-19) are one of six Calhoun County teams that punched tickets to the Elite Eight – of 10 teams that reached the regionals. The other five made it through the North Super Regional in Huntsville.
Donoho defeated Sacred Heart in the Class 1A North consolation match, Alexandria secured the No. 3 seed from 5A, while Jacksonville (4A) and Oxford (6A) guaranteed spots at the Crossplex and will play for their seeding Saturday. Oxford survived its second match in a tiebreaker after winning the first two sets.
Saks made it to Birmingham with a senior-laden team last year out of the North, but was moved into the South by reclassification, forcing them to learn a whole new set of teams in postseason play.
The Lady Wildcats had an easy time in their opener, sweeping past Ashford in three sets, but they were tested by Hale County. They play St. James in the regional semifinal, and then face either Andalusia or Satsuma.
Since they are both in the field, there is a possibility Saks and Jacksonville would face each other – for the first time this season.
“I’ve always heard the North is stronger than the South and from what I see I have to agree,” Law said. “To be honest I don’t know, if we’d been in the North, if we’d be in this situation. We’re just excited to be able to go back to the state tournament.”
Davonna Stone continued to provide the Lady Wildcats will consistent play and led them Friday with 37 kills and five blocks in their two matches. LaMonica Noel had eight kills and four blocks. Mischoreia Cole had 17 kills and Miracle Dennard delivered 89 assists. Sophomore Madison Tate had 13 kills from the right side.
“We don’t usually set her up that much,” Law said of Tate, “but she just kept on and they couldn’t stop her.”
Here are the results of the Calhoun County teams in the super regionals at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville and the Cramton Bowl Multiplex Friday. (Saks is in the South).
DONOHO
Lost to Addison 3-1 (15-25, 25-23, 25-11, 25-14)
Defeated Sacred Heart 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-22)
No. 3 seed from 1A North in Elite Eight
SACRED HEART (24-24)
Lost to Decatur Heritage 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-21)
Lost to Donoho 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-22)
No. 4 seed from 1A North in Elite Eight
ALEXANDRIA (44-9)
Lost to Lawrence County 3-2 (14-25, 26-24, 25-19, 27-29, 15-7)
Defeated Guntersville 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19)
No. 3 seed from 5A North in Elite Eight
SAKS (32-19)
Defeated Ashford 3-0 (25-7, 25-5, 25-13)
Defeated Hale County 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-5) for a spot in Elite Eight
Plays St. James tomorrow in regional semifinals
South Final Four: Saks, St. James, Andalusia, Satsuma
North Final Four: Jacksonville, Deshler, Madison Academy, Danville
JACKSONVILLE (41-10)
Defeated Priceville 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-18)
Defeated DAR 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-11) for a spot in Elite Eight
Plays Deshler (42-11) tomorrow in regional semifinals
North Final Four: Jacksonville, Deshler, Madison Academy, Danville
South Final Four: Saks, St. James, Andalusia, Satsuma
OXFORD (40-15)
Defeated McAdory 3-0 (25-20, 25-9, 25-10)
Defeated Clay-Chalkville 3-2 (25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 15-11) for spot in Elite Eight
Plays Hazel Green (51-3) tomorrow in regional semifinals
North Final Four: Oxford, Hazel Green, Walker-Albertville winner, Hartselle.
South Final Four: Blount, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
WHITE PLAINS (25-17)
Lost to Danville 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-12)
STATE ELITE EIGHT
(Wednesday’s matches)
CLASS 1A (Finals, Thursday, 8 p.m.)
Game 1 — S1 Isabella (36-3) vs. N4 Sacred Heart (24-24), 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 — N2 Addison (40-11) vs. S3 Pleasant Home (21-7), 9:30 a.m.
Game 3 — N1 Decatur Heritage (43-10) vs. S4 Kinston (17-14), 2 p.m.
Game 4 — S2 Ragland (23-16) vs. N3 Donoho, 2 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A (Finals, Thursday, noon)
Game 1 — S1 vs. N4, 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 — N2 vs. S3, 9:30 a.m.
Game 3 — N1 vs. S4, 12:30 p.m.
Game 4 — S2 vs. N3, 12:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A (Finals, Thursday, 10 a.m.)
Game 1 — S1 St. Paul’s (41-7) vs. N4 Guntersville (30-28), 8 a.m.
Game 2 — N2 Lawrence County (45-13) vs. S3 Briarwood Christian (19-23), 8 a.m.
Game 3 — N1 St. John Paul II 38-26) vs. S4 Rehobeth (31-9), 12:30 p.m.
Game 4 — S2 Faith Academy (24-17) vs. N3 Alexandria (44-9), 12:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 3:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3:30 p.m.
CLASS 6A (Finals, Thursday, 4 p.m.)
Game 1 — S1 vs. N4, 9:30 a.m.
Game 2 — N2 vs. S3, 9:30 a.m.
Game 3 — N1 vs. S4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 — S2 vs. N3, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5:30 p.m.
DECATUR HERITAGE 3, SACRED HEART 0
(20-8, 25-7, 25-21)
(Sacred Heart statistics)
KILLS — Haley Shaw 5, Jumoke Sanusi 3, Deborah Greene 2, Jacque Beyerle 1.
ACES — Haley Shaw 1, Jumoke Sanusi 2, Mary Kate Middlebrook 1.
ASSISTS — Jayla Woods 11.
DIGS — Haley Shaw 9, Jumoke Sanusi 9, Jayla Woods 7, Deborah Greene 11, Mary Kate Middlebrook 2, Jacque Beyerle 2, Sophia Allen 7.
BLOCKS — Deborah Greene 1.
DONOHO 3, SACRED HEART 0
(25-16, 25-20, 25-22)
(Sacred Heart statistics)
KILLS — Haley Shaw 11, Jumoke Sanusi 5, Jayla Woods 1, Deborah Greene 4, Jacque Beyerle 7, Mary Kate Middlebrook 1.
ACES — Haley Shaw 2, Jumoke Sanusi 2.
ASSISTS — Jayla Woods 20, Sophia Allen 1.
DIGS — Haley Shaw 7, Jayla Woods 23, Deborah Greene 8, Jacque Beyerle 19, Mary Kate Middlebrook 3, Sophia Allen 11.
BLOCKS — Haley Shaw 2, Jumoke Sanusi 1, Deborah Greene 2, Jacque Beyerle 1, Mary Kate Middlebrook 1.
OXFORD 3, McADORY 0
(25-20, 25-9, 25-10)
(Oxford statistics)
KILLS – Alex Gomez 2, Chloe Stone 1, Makayla Kidd 4, Nyia Archie 10, JoJo Skinner 2, Rachel Uhrin 6.
ACES – Chloe Stone 2, Makayla Kidd 3, Nyia Archie 2, Abby Buusey 2, JoJo Skinner 4.
ASSISTS – Chloe Stone 21.
DIGS – Alex Gomez 2, Alex Hammond 8, Chloe Stone 9, Makayla Kidd 5, Nyia Archie 2, Abby Bussey 11, JoJo Skinner 6.
SOLO BLOCKS – Nyia Archie 1.
OXFORD 3, CLAY-CHALKVILLE 2
(25-17, 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 15-11)
(Oxford statistics)
KILLS – Alex Gomez 2, Chloe Stone 1, Makayla Kidd 7, Nyia Archie 11, JoJo Skinner 6, Rachel Uhrin 15.
ACES – Alex Hammond 1, , Makayla Kidd 2, Nyia Archie 3, Abby Bussey 2, JoJo Skinner 4.
ASSISTS – Chloe Stone 28
SOLO BLOCKS – Nyia Archie 5.
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