Lady Senators get sweep on Sophomore Night over Bryan College JV

MORRISTOWN, TN – Walters State honored eight sophomores on Thursday night, and they went out in style with a sweep of Bryan College JV, 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-12). 

With the win, Walters State moved to 12-12 on the season. 

The Lady Senators eight sophomores were honored before the game with flowers and a photo. Those eight sophomores were Takiya Curry, Faith Heskett, Madyson Greenlee, Brittany Kitchens, Jordan Moore, Sidney Keck, Bella Webb and Hannah Freeman. 

"They have meant a lot," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "I was happy to get them quality playing time tonight. They all did extremely well. They have put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears for this program. They deserved it. I am sad to be losing them but happy they are here right now." 

As she has done the past couple years on Sophomore Night, Blaylock played only her eight sophomores, and three super sophomores, throughout the match on Thursday night.

For Blaylock, it is a way to honor a hard-working group of student-athletes each year. 

"They have put in all of this work, so they deserved to play the match tonight," Blaylock said. "That's something I am big on and something I will keep doing for as long as I can." 

With no more region matches left before the Region 7 Tournament next Friday, and just one more non-region match on Monday, Thursday night was about improving on different things. The lopsided sweep by Walters State reflected that they accomplished what they wanted to in the match.

"We're just taking it one game at a time right now," Blaylock said. "We'll focus on Montreat on Monday and then turn around and prepare for Roane and see where it goes." 

The match was tight to start as the two teams were tied at five before an ace from Freeman gave Walters State the lead. The Lady Senators quickly built their lead from there and forced a timeout at 16-9. Coming out of the timeout, Walters State added back-to-back kills from Jordan Moore and Mackenzie Sweigart.

Moore and Sweigart, as well as Heskett, were just three of the many players that filled up the stat sheet Thursday night.

"All three of them have been incredible," Blaylock said. "That is the consistency we look for in our older players, especially this late in the season. That's a gamechanger if you can have players that can consistently put up points and the stats that even Heskett does. It's really incredible." 

Following the back-to-back kills, Walters State stayed the course and took the opening set, 25-15. Greenlee closed the set out with a kill.

In the second set, Walters State took control early and never let their foot off the gas. The Lady Senators quickly got up 10-4 following an ace from Curry and then, at 10-6, scored nine of the next 10 points to make it 19-7. During that run, Mercedes Collins and Moore had kills while Webb had two aces. 

Walters State closed the set out to go up 2-0 with a 25-9 victory.

The final set was close early again before Walters State scored six straight to go up 9-3. The run was led by kills from Moore and Sweigart and an ace by Heskett. 

Walters State then grew their lead to 17-9 to force a timeout before closing things out from there with a 25-12 win as Heskett had one more ace.

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Monday for their final match of the regular season. The Lady Senators will travel to take on Montreat College JV at 6:30 p.m. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics