It was a quick opening to the 2022 playoffs for Tallulah Falls, as the #5 Lady Indians took a 3-0 win over visiting Darlington on Tuesday evening, securing a third consecutive (and fourth overall) Sweet 16 berth.
The opening set was a 25-18 win for Tallulah, who raced out to a 7-2 lead. Darlington would go on a small run to pull within a point, but Sofia Rueda had a pair of kills to help pad the lead. Back-to-back aces by Elsa Sanchez made it 18-14, and Sarah Jennings’ spike moments later was her 1,000th career kill. She had three kills in the set, as did Addy McCoy, while Rueda had five. Kitty Rodenas had three aces, and Sanchez two aces in the opening set.
The second set again saw TFS get off to a fast start, going up 7-1 before Darlington ended a run. Rodenas had a string of three straight aces that highlighted that run, forcing the visitors to burn a timeout. Another run for the Lady Indians resulted in a 13-3 lead, and from there Darlington provided little resistance. In the second set, Jennings had four kills and McCoy two, and Skylyn Yaskiewicz had a pair as well. Tallulah Falls claimed the set 25-11.
The third set featured little drama, as TFS was up 14-3 rather quickly, and began to cycle in players who usually don’t get much time on the court. Several players contributed with kills, and Jennings’ four aces helped stretch the early lead. A 25-13 set win clinched the match for the Lady Indians, who are now 31-11 overall, and on a six-match win streak.
The 31st win of the season also matches the school record set back in 2018. Jennings, who earlier this season became the all-time kills leader, eclipsed 1,000 kills in her career and also surpassed Katy Corbett (’21) in all-time digs, needing just five coming into Tuesday’s match to break the record. With the 3-0 win, the Lady Indians also set a school record in total set wins with 72 on the season.
TFS will play in the Sweet 16 at home on Saturday afternoon, with the opponent and game time to be determined.
MATCH SCORES:
#5 Lady Indians W 3-0 vs Darlington: 25-18, 25-11, 25-13
