In one of the final games of the regular season, the North Cobb Lady Warriors volleyball team dismantled the East Coweta Lady Indians three sets to one on NC’s senior night, Wednesday, October 8.

“We came out ready to go. It was our night tonight and I knew we were ready to get the win for the team and the fans. The fans were great. They really helped us and motivated us after we lost the third set,” junior setter Taylor Parrish said.

After the fourth state-ranked East Coweta fought back in the third set, the Warriors figured out their game plan in order to close out the match. After dominating the Indians in the first two sets, the Warriors were slowed by the desperate defense of East Coweta.

The final set teetered back and forth, with a high tempo scoring offense on both sides for the first 15 points of the set. However, with a four-point resurgence led by sophomore defensive specialist Katelynn Riner, the Warriors took the lead 21-18, and in a critical moment, senior libero Christina Matacotta swung at the ball, got the kill, and secured the momentum switch to the Warriors. NC won the fourth set 25-22, making their senior night one to remember.

The Lady Warriors came out of the locker room slow to start the third set. Coach Auld called NC’s first timeout when the score read 14-6, as the Lady Warriors were late to tips and were not communicating well enough. Momentum continued to ride with the Indians, as they furthered their lead to 23-13. Senior outside hitter Abby Miller answered the Indians’ surge with one of her own, serving six straight points for the Warriors and cutting the lead to 23-19. Momentum switched in favor of NC, but one swing by the Indians made the difference to close out the set. East Coweta won set three 25-19, cutting the Warriors set lead to just 2-1.

The Indians started the second set strong by taking an 8-4 lead. However, the Warriors responded quickly, as they normally do, with sophomore middle Jenna Woodruff leading a streak of eight points. Woodruff’s tremendous serving to the sidelines and back corners made the Indians scramble for the ball. NC seniors knew well enough that with the Indians’ sloppy passing, they had more opportunities for dangerous kills. Taking advantage of their opportunities remains exactly what the Warriors do best. The Warriors made quick work of the Indians, winning 25-20 in the second set.

Pure dominance by the Lady Warriors persisted through the entire match. The opening set–complemented by a commemoration ceremony for senior players–seemed one-sided. The Warriors excelled in blocking early on. Parrish and junior hitter Lizzy Daniel led the blocking surge when they batted a swing by the Indians straight down. Matacotta and Riner led the serving streak, catching the Indians daydreaming when they served aces short to the middle multiple times. The Indians called their second timeout after Miller added to the ace streak and the score read 20-14. The Warriors won the first set 25-15.

The Warriors’ season ends soon. NC holds the 3rd seed in the state playoffs and will host the Mountain View Bears today, October 16.