
Entering Monday night’s FHSAA Rural District 6 volleyball match against visiting Dixie County (Cross City), Union County coach Tifani Knox was looking for consistency.
She got that from her Tigers, who ended the first and second sets with 8-0 and 7-0 runs, respectively, in a 25-10, 25-14, 25-19 sweep of the Bears on Coach Jimmy Thomas Court.
After the Bears (8-11) got within three in the first set at 12-9 on a block by junior Jeriah Curtis, Union County (16-7) went on a 5-0 run to pull away.
Senior libero Bella Johns had a pair of aces, followed by an attack error, to build a 17-9 advantage.
“It was nice to get those runs, it means a lot,” Knox said. “Volleyball is so much about momentum, and it can change really, really quickly, so we kept the momentum tonight for most of the match, and I think that was why we were successful.”
Junior Mallory Waugh (5 kills) had an ace and a kill, and senior Indi Knox (6 kills) had the decisive kill for a 25-10 win in the first set, which ended with an 8-0 run.
In the second set, Dixie County sophomore Hadlee Hines had consecutive aces to give the Bears a 12-8 lead.
Waugh added a kill to spark a 10-0 run, highlighted by an ace by Waugh and a kill by senior Shaley Maloney for an 18-12 lead.
Leading 18-14, Indi Knox’s kill ignited a 7-0 run and senior Jailyn Simmons (7 kills, 4 aces) had consecutive blocks as the Tigers won the second set, 25-14.
Following consecutive kills by Simmons for an 18-12 lead in the third set, the Bears went on a 5-0 run to get within one at 18-7, and they eventually tied it at 19-all.
However, Simmons had consecutive aces as the Tigers ended the third set with a 6-0 run for a 25-19 win and a sweep of the two-game series.
“She played well, and she played well in the back row as well, defense, which she only gets one rotation back there and she loves it,” Knox said. “She did well for us tonight.”
Johns also finished with 20 digs for the Tigers, who will host Baker County (Glen St. Mary) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday for Senior Night. Knox said she is “about 20 digs away” from 1,000 in her high school career.
Sophomore Morgan Smith added five kills for Union County, which will close out the regular season on Thursday at district foe Bell.
Senior Averleigh McFarlan and junior Kamille Barnes led the Bears with five kills apiece, senior Jaicee Brown had 21 digs, and senior Riley Whitaker finished with 11 assists.
Dixie County, which was ranked fourth in the district behind Union County in one of the toughest districts in the state, hosts Bronson 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday followed by a home match against Fort White at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Union County will host the district semifinals next Tuesday and the district championship on Thursday. The top seeds will host district quarterfinals, which begin on Monday.