COURTLAND
Southampton Academy volleyball has struggled in recent weeks, as the end of the season nears. Recently, the team fell to Amelia Academy on Oct. 19 with scores of 15-25, 26-28, 25-18 and 18-25.

“Amelia is a good team. They play really well as a unit and don’t let much drop,” coach Emmy Hodges said. “If we went into a lull, they would take advantage. In the end, they played better together and pulled it out.”

However, Southampton Academy beat Tidewater Academy on Oct. 22. They won in four games with scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-9 and 25-21.

“Morgan Garris did a great job passing against Tidewater. Almost every pass went to the setter. She did a wonderful job setting up our attacks,” coach Rebecca Harper continued. “We went through a short spell in the second game where we just looked asleep. We got down early in that game and though we came back, it was a little too late. We got it back in the third game and only allowed them nine points.”

Harper also noted that junior varsity and junior junior varsity also beat Tidewater Academy that night.

Unfortunately, the team fell short on Tuesday night when they played Amelia Academy again in three games with scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17.

“We never really got it together when we played Amelia away,” Harper added. “We had moments when we looked really good, but we could never string a lot of those points together. I think we are fully capable of beating Amelia, though they are a good team. We just have to play together and communicate on the court. We have to forget the mistakes and look to the next point.”

Highlights from the game included Mason Pope with six kills; Ashten Hinkle with four kills; and Avery Pope with two aces.

“Nina Byrd and Ashten Hinkle did a great job serving,” Harper said.