Beason big again
- Updated: September 12, 2019
Versatile junior leads Alexandria to wins over Weaver, Pleasant Valley keeping Lady Cubs undefeated against county competition
Thursday’s matches
Alexandria 2, Weaver 0 (25-16, 25-9)
Alexandria 2, Pleasant Valley 0 (25-14, 28-26)
Lincoln 2, Childersburg 0 (25-0, 25-5)
Lincoln 2, Winterboro 1 (25-11, 21-25, 15-8)
Munford 3, ASD 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-11)
Pleasant Valley 3, Weaver 1 (25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17)
Haralson County (Ga.) at Piedmont
Jacksonville 3, Cherokee County 0
Hokes Bluff at White Plains
Ranburne at Piedmont
Saks at Wellborn
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – Whitney Welch recognized early last year Jordan Beason as a player who, in time, could have an big impact on her Alexandria volleyball team.
The then-sophomore saw spot action last year after being pulled up to the varsity following the second tournament of the season and steadily gained confidence with each rotation she played. Her game really took off during the summer and now, 22 matches into her junior season, she has become the go-to player on a surging Lady Cubs team short on varsity experience still trying to figure it all out.
Beason came up big for her team again Thursday night, keeping balls alive and putting them away as the Lady Cubs beat Weaver and Pleasant Valley in straight sets to all but lock up the No. 1 seed at next week’s county tournament meeting.
The Lady Cubs put away Weaver 25-16, 25-9 and outdueled Pleasant Valley in a tight second set 25-14, 28-26. They are now 18-4 overall and 7-0 against county competition, including two wins over presumptive No. 2 seed Jacksonville.
Beason fills up a box score, and that’s what Welch saw in her last year. She had 14 kills, four digs and two aces against Pleasant Valley, five kills, six digs and an ace against Weaver.
“I saw a full game,” Welch said. “I really like her because she can play all six (positions) and I wanted her to be able to come up and be with us and get some reps. She really came along through the summer. As she goes we go. She’s been a big weapon for us and she’ll continue to be.
“Jordan Beason is a competitor, in a word; she competes all the time. I think in today’s time you love to see somebody who has the old-school grit and competitiveness and that’s what she has. And that’s what makes her special.”
Beason credited the seven veterans on last year’s team with helping make her comfortable in her new role last year. As one of five players returning from that team, she’s looking to repay the favor this year “by trying my best for my team.”
“Mrs. Welch gave me all the reps last year and I was really thankful for that because it really made me better,” she said. “The seniors last year really were supportive when I came into the game and really helped me with my mentality. This year, it’s all for my team.”
Pleasant Valley opened the night with a 3-1 area win over Weaver. The Lady Raiders took the first two sets 25-17, 25-21, Weaver extended the match by rallying from a 15-9 deficit to win the third set 25-22, then PV closed it out 27-17.
Karmyn Sparks had 22 kills and four blocks for the Lady Raiders in their two matches. Mattie Glass had 13 kills, a .416 attack percentage and 25 digs; Rylee Haynes had 41 assists and five blocks; and Leah Patterson had nine kills, 28 digs and four blocks.
Weaver gave the Lady Raiders a battle. PV dominated the first set, but the Lady Bearcats rallied in the second set to take a 19-18 lead before their hosts pulled away. They trailed in the third, but rallied with a 9-1 run to take a lead they held the rest of the set and then carried that momentum to a 4-1 lead in the fourth before PV regained control.
“Both of these teams probably weren’t expecting us to hang with them, honestly, and we did and I hope that that kept them on their toes,” Weaver coach Chelsea Watson Mize said.
PLEASANT VALLEY STATISTICS
(Two-match totals)
KILLS: Leah Patterson 9, Mattie Glass 13, Karmyn Sparks 22, Gracie Davis 2, Madison Borders 9, Allie Bryant 1, Rylee Haynes 3.
ASSISTS: Karmyn Sparks 1, Gracie Davis 1, Madison Borders 1, Rylee Haynes 41.
ACES: Leah Patterson 5, Mattie Glass 2, Madison Borders 2, Allie Bryant 3, Rylee Haynes 4, Taylor Nix 3.
DIGS: Leah Patterson 28, Mattie Glass 25, Karmyn Sparks 3, Gracie Davis 1, Madison Borders 22, Allie Bryant 20, Rylee Haynes 8, Taylor Nix 14.
BLOCKS: Leah Patterson 4, Karmyn Sparks 4, Madison Borders 1, Rylee Haynes 5.
ALEXANDRIA STATISTICS
(def. Pleasant Valley 2-0)
KILLS: Jordan Beason 14, Kylie Jordan 6, Madison Wallace 3, Lexi Weber 1, TyShica Woodgett 2, Sarah Pelham 1, Anna Johnson 2, Kylee Smith 1.
ASSISTS: Sarah Pelham 1, Jolie Weathington 1, Anna Johnson 23
ACES: Jordan Beason 2, Ashley Parker 1,
DIGS: Jordan Beason 4, Sarah Pelham 11, Ashley Parker 2, Jolie Weathington 2, Anna Johnson 5, Kandyn Blankenship 1.
BLOCKS: Madison Wallace 1, Lexi Weber 1,
(def. Weaver 2-0)
KILLS: Jordan Beason 5, Kylie Jordan 2, Lexi Weber 6, TyShica Woodgett 1, Anna Johnson 2, Kandyn Blankenship 1, Crossley Sparks 3, Kaylee Smith 1.
ASSISTS: Madison Wallace 1, Sarah Pelham 1, Anna Johnson 12.
ACES: Jordan Beason 1, Kylie Jordan 1, Lexi Weber 1, Ashley Parker 1.
DIGS: Jordan Beason 6, Kylie Jordan 2, Madison Wallace 1, Lexi Weber 1, Sarah Pelham 9, Ashley Parker 1, Jolie Weathington 1, Anna Johnson 3, Kandyn Blankenship 5.
BLOCKS: Madison Wallace 2, Lexi Weber 5, TyShica Woodgett 1.
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