Not to take anything away from the Livingston Central Lady Cardinals, but Caldwell County’s Olivia Mitchell was on a different volleyball planet Monday night. The Caldwell County junior finished the night with 23 kills, as the Lady Tigers swept past the Lady Cardinals 25-9, 25-5, and 25-16 in the season opener for both teams. In addition to being the season opener, the match was also a quarterfinal matchup in the 2nd Region All A Classic.
Caldwell County scored the first six points of the opening set and never looked back. Mitchell had five kills and 3 aces in the opening set. The Lady Tigers also got strong play from Kynady Thomas and Mary Tays, both members of a talented sophomore class.
The second set was an impressive display by Mitchell. Holding the lead at 6-2, the Lady Tigers ripped off the next 13 points to go up 19-2, and then roll on to the 20 point win in the set. Mitchell had 12 kills in the set. Caldwell County also got some big moments from sophomore Savannah Scott during the set.
Livingston Central tried to make a battle of it in the third set, taking an early 4-3 lead. The Lady Cardinals were leading as late as 16-15, before Caldwell County closed it out with the final ten points of the match. Mitchell added six more kills in the set. And, the Lady Tigers got a big service run from senior Savanna Tays. Tays would end the match with 24 set assists and 7 aces.
Riley Thomas led the Lady Tigers, coming up with 10 digs over the course of the match.
Caldwell County (1-0) will return to action Tuesday evening at Christian County. With the win, the Lady Tigers also advance to take on Fort Campbell in the semifinals of the 2nd Region All A Classic, September 4, at Fort Campbell.
