MS Volleyball: Lee three-peats as league champions
From Staff Reports
sports@newnan.com
Monday’s volleyball championship between Lee and Madras to close the 2012 season might just go down as the most dramatic finishes in the 15-year history of the Coweta County Middle School Athletic League.
In the end, Lee Middle School prevailed in a five-set thriller, beating Madras (25-20, 23-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-10) to win its third straight under coach Robert Doyal.
After posting the lone win over Lee during that period, Madras (9-3) nearly pulled off an even bigger stunner in the tournament final at Arnall Middle School under the guidance of Eagles coaches Kelly Benton and Kayla Floyd.
Madras held match point at 24-20 after winning two of Monday’s opening three games before Lee rallied with six straight to force a deciding game in the best-of-five championship.
In the last set, the two teams took turn trading points before Lee pulled away from an 8-all tie to outscore Madras 7-2 down the stretch en route to the county title.
Middle hitter Riley Padgett led all players with 30 kills and nine aces including the final five kills of the crucial fourth set to lead the Timberwolves six-point rally.
Madras’ Kara Groover finished with eight aces and sister Karlee led the Eagles with eight kills. Olivia Masonheimer added five kills and three aces.
The Timberwolves were paced by setter Bailey Swindell’s career-high 33 assists while also adding two blocks and seven kills in the victory. Lindsey Dorson led Lee with 17 digs and served the final six points of the fourth-set comeback. Payton Bell, Lindsey Dorson and Kami Keller each finished with four aces.
It was the fourth consecutive finals appearance for Lee under Doyal.
