Lady Pirates Advance To Playoffs As District Runner Up

By Clint Cox
The Sneads Lady Pirates volleyball went five sets against Blountstown last Thursday night in a hard fought contest that went right down to the final point. In the end however Blountstown managed a 3-2 win over the Lady Pirates and in doing so captured the Class 2A District 2 Championship. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Sneads as they had gone unbeaten in district play during the regular season. After wins on Monday and Tuesday in the district’s opening rounds the Lady Pirates were 16-0 against their district foes. Add to that the fact that Sneads has won the district the last two years and the Lady Tigers were gunning to knock Sneads off.

Playing on their home court in front of a capacity crowd, Blountstown went toe to toe with the Lady Pirates in first set. The score went back and forth and twelve times the score was tied. Meagan Smith, Ashley Smith and Jordan Jackson paced Sneads through the set. Neither team could get ahead by more than two points but Blountstown hung on to get a 25-23 win. Set two saw the Lady Pirates jump out to an early lead as Meagan Smith and Jackson continued to pace Sneads. The Lady Pirates went on to win the set by a score of 25-15. The third set had the Lady Pirates out to another early lead. Ashley Smith, Kara Alford and Jackson paced Sneads to a 12-5 lead. Blountstown battled back to make it 15-11 before Sneads got going again. A tap over by Jackson gave Sneads an 18-13 lead but again Blountstown battled back. After a long crowd thrilling rally the Lady Tigers cut it to a 22-20 lead. But kills by Alford and Sierra Hewett made it 24-20 and the Alford served out the set point for a 25-20 victory.

Up two sets to one Sneads appeared in control and on track to win the district for the third straight year. Sneads took a 5-2 lead in the fourth set but Blountstown hung close. The Lady Tigers took their first lead of the set at 14-13 and then outscored Sneads 7-1 to take a 21-14 lead. Sneads battled back to tie the game at 21-21 but Blountstown then surged to get a 25-22 victory. The fifth and deciding set was nip and tuck. Neither team could get ahead by more than one point and there were nine ties during the set. A kill by Jackson gave Sneads a 12-11 lead but two points later the scored was knotted at 13-13. Blountstown got the final two points for a 15-13 win and the District Championship.

With the loss Sneads fell to 23-5 on the season and were scheduled to play at Baker on Wednesday in the first round of the FHSAA Class 2A playoffs. Results of that contest were not available at press time. If Sneads could win that match they would face the winner of Blountstown vs Northview in round two of the playoffs.