When WCMS went off the rails for a week, it started at Algood. Three weeks later, the Lady Pioneers got their payback.
Warren County Middle School celebrated eighth-grade night Monday with a 25-23, 25-15 sweep of Algood, reversing the result of a three-set road loss to the Lady Redskins on Aug. 24 and picking up its third straight victory.
WCMS improved to 13-5 overall with the win, continuing a resurgence after dropping three straight matches to Algood, Prescott South and Stone Memorial.
"It definitely felt really good," said coach Bethany Mesaros. "We were kind of all over the place when we went down there, so I told the girls to definitely focus on the open spots on the court and working collectively as a team to push all the way to the end. So it definitely feels really good to have them come together and get the win."
After grinding out a two-point victory in the opening set, Warren County's eighth graders took over in the second.
Ellie Dixon provided the power.
Dixon crushed two consecutive kills through the Algood defense near the midway point of the set, attacks hit with enough force that there wasn't much chance of anybody getting in the way. She finished with five kills in the second set and a match-high nine overall.
Then Khloe Howell took her turn putting Algood away from the service line.
Khloe Howell’s serving was a difference maker Monday night.
Howell ripped off a long serving run as Warren County built its advantage, recording four of her match-high seven aces in the second set. Once the Lady Pioneers had control, they never gave it back.
"It definitely allows us to try out different plays and push and find different spots on the court," said Mesaros when asked about going up big in the second set. "It gives different girls opportunities to swing, and it's not as much pressure on top of them when they're trying to find open spots on the court when we're trying to come back from a deficit."
Dixon added two aces and four digs to her nine kills. Fallon Youngblood handed out 10 assists, six in the second set, while adding three digs and an ace.
Maebry Yates had four aces, including three in the opening set, and nine digs. Lyvia Wilson led the defense with 11 digs. Emma Boon added an ace, assist, dig and kill, while Howell finished with two kills and a dig to go with her seven aces.
The performance was a fitting way to celebrate an eighth-grade group Mesaros believes has set an example for the program.
"These eighth graders have been a good group, demonstrating what hard work can look like on the court. They are a steady bunch who have honed in their skills and it shows in every game," said Mesaros. "They are certainly major contributors on the court and will be missed dearly next season."
Mesaros has watched each member of the group carve out her own role, saying the following about what stood out about each eighth grader:
"Ellie’s aggressiveness at the net as well as her drive to want to get better every practice - She is not someone you mess with on the front row and is often a wall defensively.”
"Khloe has her fun loving personality that draws people in to want to play. She has grown so much as a middle blocker and can read the open spots on the court very well.”
"Lyvia and her leadership with the team and in the back row. She is so consistent and will dive after any and every ball you put in front of her.”
"Fallon and her drive to bring her teammates up and her high expectations of herself and teammates. She is definitely an offensive anchor and has a pulse on the energy of the court.”
That group helped Warren County turn Monday's rematch into another indication of how far the Lady Pioneers have come since their first trip to Algood.
"I feel like we have definitely improved a lot," said Mesaros. "The girls are definitely working together cohesively as a team, and it's showing in our district."
Warren County will have two opportunities to keep building before postseason play begins. The Lady Pioneers travel to Westwood Tuesday for a 5 p.m. match before returning home Thursday to face Prescott at 5:30 p.m. in the regular-season finale. The district tournament is scheduled for Sept. 21-25.
