The Shadow
WYTHEVILLE – Things were looking a little rough for the Covington volleyball team Saturday morning.
The Cougars had lost their tournament opener, and in the process hitter Leteashia Clarke had been shelved with an ankle injury.
But Mary Tyree’s group came roaring back.
The Cougars, behind a team-high 42 kills from Sa’Mone Moore and 36 assists by Briana Moore, won four straight to capture the tournament title at the Fort Chiswell Invitational.
“Everyone stepped up and met the challenge,” said Tyree, whose team moved to 12-4 on the year.
“Bailey Hall played middle hitter in place of Leteashia and Burke Staunton played back line and served,” she said. “They both did a great job.”
After the loss to Tazewell in match one (25-17, 25-22), the Cougars never lost another set.
Covington whipped Pulaski County (25-9, 25-20) in their second match of pool play and then knocked off Fort Chiswell (25-16, 25-20), Tazewell (25-23, 25-19) and Pulaski County (30-28, 25-13) in the single elimination portion of the tournament.
Sa’Mone Moore added 13 blocks and 11 digs to her kill total, while setter Briana Moore had seven kills and nine digs.
Both earned all-tournament honors.
“Both Sa’Mone and Briana had an outstanding tournament,” said Tyree.
Autumn Phillips had 15 kills and 10 digs, Taylor Ginger added five kills, four digs and six aces, Kristina Huffman had four kills, 12 digs and two assists, while Staunton had five digs and four aces.
The Cougars served at an 88 percent clip, led by Ginger at 95 percent.
Tyree credited the entire team for adjustments made after the Clarke injury.
“We really didn’t know what to do,” Tyree said. “But in between the Tazewell and Pulaski matches, we made some changes and the girls all stepped up. We played as a team.
It was a great team effort and everyone contributed,”
Covington, who is unbeaten against Group A competition, begins Pioneer District play this week.
The Cougars go on the road for matches at Parry McCluer on Tuesday and at Craig County on Thursday.
They return home on Tuesday, October 2, for a match-up with Bath County.
