Warren County has spent the last few weeks trying to find its way out of a skid, showing time and again it can play winning volleyball but struggling to sustain it long enough to finish. Thursday night at LaVergne, the Lady Pioneers finally finished.
After an ugly opening set and another late stumble that forced a fifth, Warren County collected itself and delivered its most convincing stretch of the night when it mattered most. The Lady Pioneers dominated the deciding set 15-6 to beat LaVergne 3-2 and snap a four-match District 7-AAA losing streak.
Warren County won 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 22-25 and 15-6 to improve to 7-10 overall and 4-5 in district play.
“It was a big win that the team really needed tonight,” said coach Erin Blalock after the match.
Needed may have been an understatement.
The Lady Pioneers had lost four straight district matches since beating Smyrna, with three of those losses coming in matches where Warren County had legitimate opportunities to win. The Lady Pioneers lost tight third and fourth sets against Stewarts Creek, led White County 9-6 in a deciding fifth and then went up two sets at Wilson Central Tuesday before watching that match completely unravel.
Thursday initially looked like it might bring more of the same frustration.
“The first set for varsity was ugly in almost every aspect of our game,” said Blalock. “Again, it was simply too many unforced errors on our part that was the difference.”
Warren County struggled so much in the opener that Blalock turned to members of her JV squad for a spark. LaVergne took advantage of the Lady Pioneers' mistakes and rolled to a victory.
This time, Warren County didn't allow one bad set to become another.
The Lady Pioneers’ varsity players returned in the second set and did what they’ve shown at times over the last three weeks: Be a dominating force on the court. Warren County answered by rolling in back-to-back sets to take command of the match.
“They took a breather, collected themselves at the end of the first set and started playing more like the team they can be in the second and third sets,” said Blalock.
Finishing still wasn't going to come easily.
LaVergne, a team Warren County had swept in the first meeting this season, showed how much it had improved by answering with a 25-22 victory in the fourth. Suddenly, the Lady Pioneers were headed back into a situation that hasn't been particularly kind to them lately.
Warren County had already lost two five-set matches during its recent district slide. White County rallied from a 9-6 deficit to beat the Lady Pioneers 15-12 in the fifth, then Wilson Central completed its comeback Tuesday with a 15-6 victory in the deciding set.
Two nights later, Warren County finally flipped the script.
“I could tell when we went into the fifth set they knew what needed to be done, and then they made it happen,” said Blalock.
There was no late collapse this time. There wasn't even much drama.
Warren County seized control and never let LaVergne create another opening, running away with the fifth to finally put away a match that had required the Lady Pioneers to regroup more than once.
“LaVergne has really improved since last year and even since our first meeting this season, so it was a good win to show some grit and finish,” said Blalock.
More than anything, the finish was something Warren County had been searching for - finding a way to win when everything was on the line.
“I’m definitely proud of the girls for settling in, not getting down on themselves or each other, and finding a way to the W tonight,” said Blalock.
Warren County won't have to wait long for a chance to build on it. The Lady Pioneers return to Charlie Dalton Gym Friday for a 1:30 p.m. day game against Van Buren County.
“I know they are really excited to play the day game tomorrow and I know they’ll work to keep the momentum going,” said Blalock.
Fans can catch the match on the Warren County Sports Authority Facebook page or the Studio 605 Productions YouTube page with Jeff Simmons and Chris Sullens on the call.
