Slow start, big follow up
Losses to Maryville, Heritage just prompt Lady Mavs to get better
Erin Cantrell goes for the kill shot on Thursday night in the Lady Mavericks home match against Grace Christian Academy. Cantrell, Region 2 MVP in 2020 as a junior, was in mid-season form in the home opener. The senior left side hitter had 12 kills in the Lady Mavericks 2 - 0 (25-20, 25 - 13) win over the Lady Rams. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Lady Mavericks lost five seniors off last season’s team that went 35-9.
The new-look team opened the 2021 campaign with a pair of losses against Maryville and Heritage at Maryville High School.
The Lady Mavericks, however, bounced back to win five straight matches, posting victories over South-Doyle, Grace Christian Academy, Livingston Academy, Ooltewah and Lenoir City.
ACHS (5-3) dropped a match to Knoxville Catholic Saturday. The Lady Irish are regulars at the state tournament in Murfreesboro.
Most of the returners for the Lady Mavericks are playing in new positions. Anderson County senior libero Leah Freeman is the only returner to play the same position that she played last year.
Jayce Breeden, another senior, is playing middle blocker this season. Senior Erin Cantrell, a former right side player, has changed ends of the court and is playing on the left side this season.
Anna Kay Smith, who played defensive specialist in 2020, is now playing as an outside hitter.
Sophomores Jaylynn Bullock (setter) and Kyra Damewood (outside hitter) also return.
Newcomers Shelby Kelly (freshman, middle blocker) and senior transfer McKenzie Harms join the fray this season.
Anderson County Coach Jayme Smith said the season-opening losses to the Lady Mountaineers and Lady Rebels resulted in a few shuffles for the Lady Mavericks.
“We took the opportunity after those losses to make some changes that needed to be made,” Smith said. “Our serve-receive and our defense are probably the two best areas of our game.
“But we still have lots of work to do, especially with our blocking.”