On a night Tallulah Falls School honored its five seniors, the #8-ranked Lady Indians beat visiting Bethlehem Christian 3-0 on Monday evening to claim their 10th straight victory. That marks only the second 10-plus game win streak in program history, with the record holding at 13.
In the first set, TFS won 25-15. After a 6-1 start, a pair of kills each by Shelby Whisnant and Lily Smith, as well as an ace by Margalida Amengual Sanchez helped the girls get out to a 13-6 lead that sparked a timeout. Bethlehem Christian rallied back to within 15-11. Ca’Rin Swinton had two aces to get back out in front, and Becca Heyl smashed a kill for the win. Sanchez and Smith each had four kills in the set.
In the second set, the Lady Indians won a thriller, 25-23. The visitors went ahead momentarily, 4-1, before TFS battled back for the lead. The back-and-forth match continued until Tallulah went ahead on a Swinton spike. But once again, BC surged back and forced a timeout as the score was tied 22-22. Heyl again had the set-clinching spike, and Whisnant and Smith led with three kills each, while the former had two aces.
Going for the win, TFS won 25-17 in a set that was a see-saw battle early on until a Whisnant kill put them up 6-5. Swinton had a big smash that sent a player backward, and the team had a large run that included back-to-back aces by Sanchez.
Whisnant had eight kills and two aces, while Smith had nine kills and Sanchez eight (and three aces). Heyl closed shop with six kills and an ace in the match, while Swinton tallied five kills and two aces. TFS is now 22-14 on the season and finish the regular season in a tie atop the region with a 9-1 record.
Manager Ella Akers and fellow seniors Jace Ibemere, Caroline Smith, Julia Smith, and Chesney Tanksley were all recognized following the game for their contributions to the volleyball program.
