MATT TYSON

Staff Writer

Coffee County volleyball had its back against the wall late in its match against Tullahoma Thursday night. Down 2-1 to their archrival, the Lady Raiders would need to win the fourth set just to stay alive.

They did that and more over the match’s remainder, forcing a fifth set before going on to win the match 3-2 to secure another critical Class 3A District 9 victory.

“We didn’t play very good at the beginning, didn’t play good and then we picked it back up. We’ve had two or three matches that have went five and we’ve done really good in those. We lost to Lincoln but we were right there, we beat Columbia in five, so our girls are prepared for it and I don’t think Tullahoma’s had as many in five,” Coffee County coach Jon Spears said. “Our energy toward the end was just huge. Our girls don’t give up and that’s what I’ve said all year long. We fight, we claw, we don’t give up.”

After Coffee County took the first set 25-21, another close set followed before Tullahoma won by the same score to tie the match at 1-1. The Lady Cats followed this up with a 25-17 victory in the third set to take a 2-1 match lead and come one set win away from a victory.

The Lady Raiders started off the fourth set in an early 7-1 hole, but chipped away at the deficit over its course before ultimately tying it at 24-24. Coffee County went on to take the next two points to win the set 26-24 and force a winner-take-all fifth set.

Tied at 3-3 early on, the Lady Raiders went on to build up some additional space and ultimately won the set 15-10 to complete the comeback. The result marked the team’s third road win of the week, as well as its second straight district victory.

“We’re doing good,” Spears said. “We’re getting all the wins on the road like we need.”

 Hayleigh Harris, Isabelle Saner and Jenslee Nogodula all led the team in aces with two each. Danni Hillis and Blaine Weaver each had one ace.

Nogodula took the top spot for digs with 27. Hillis and Andon Selvog each added 18. Saner was credited with 13 digs. Harris followed with 10, finishing just ahead of Cara Newlin with nine.  Weaver and Paisley Dyer both picked up three digs each. Addy Wild notched two. Cailey Sturgill had one dig.

Harris finished the evening as the team’s kills leader, coming away with 11. Up next was Hillis with 10. Newlin added seven kills. Dyer and Wild followed with three kills each. Saner posted two. Sturgill and Daisy Kapise each had one kill.

Sturgill, Dyer and Wild all had one block each.

Selvog led the team in assists with 18. Saner followed with 14. Nogodula added two assists. Hillis had one.

Coffee County (11-4, 4-1 district) remains on the road for another district matchup against Lawrence County Tuesday evening. Start time is set for 6 p.m.