Maelee Turner, pictured in a previous home game, helped the Lady Pioneers pick up an easy win in Smithville Monday night.
Warren County won't be going into senior night lacking for confidence. If anything, Monday night was hopefully a preview of things to come.
The Lady Pioneers made quick work of DeKalb County in their final tuneup before Tuesday's celebration at Charlie Dalton Gym, rolling 25-9, 25-17 and 25-13 to even their overall record at 12-12 and win for the second straight match.
More importantly, Warren County looked like a team enjoying itself.
“The girls came out and played their game and really had fun tonight,” coach Erin Blalock said. “It was a great way to start the week.”
There was plenty for Blalock to like.
Aubrey Oleksik hammered down 10 kills, Natalie Payne added nine and Sloan Youngblood finished with six as Warren County piled up 33 kills in only three sets. Maelee Turner added three aces while Payne and Reese Reinitz had two apiece.
The Lady Pioneers also welcomed Caroline Boyd back to the rotation after an injury had sidelined the sophomore middle hitter. Blalock was able to ease Boyd back into action without asking too much of her in a match Warren County controlled throughout.
Monday also offered a little preview of Tuesday's Senior Night celebration.
For a stretch during the third set, Blalock put Oleksik, Ali Young, Jenna Mullins and Alyssa Boyd on the floor together. Mullins made the most of her opportunity with a team-high seven assists while Boyd added four.
“The girls are having fun playing right now and that’s fun for us as coaches too,” Blalock said.
The results are making it pretty enjoyable too. Warren County has won six of its last eight after sitting at 6-10 earlier this month. The Lady Pioneers have swept White County and DeKalb County in their last two outings and will enter Tuesday's Senior Night against Cannon County with an opportunity to climb above .500.
And after getting all four seniors together on the floor Monday, Warren County will hope the real celebration is still to come.
Action tomorrow night at the Dalt is set to begin at 6 p.m.
