Dominating performance leads No. 21 Walters State to sweep of Cleveland State

MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 21 Walters State put together one of their more complete performances of the season Thursday evening as they continued their dominant start, sweeping Cleveland State 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-14).

With the win, the Lady Senators improve to 7-0 on the season and are 6-0 in the conference. They have a three-game lead in the conference at the halfway point of the season.

After a slow start to the match, it was all Lady Senators as they kept attacking and attacking with the Lady Cougars not able to provide any answers.

"I think we are all just hitting our stride right now at the same time which is incredible," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "You don't see a lot of people all hit their stride at the same time, but it is happening for us. I can only accredit it to what they are doing. We work on it at practice, but the girls are working hard and it is showing."

While the familiar faces of Olivia Oxendine, Devyn Davis and Lydia Buchanan were their normal selves, it was a couple of different faces that really got the Lady Senators going. Hannah Daniels, Mercedes Collins and Mackenzie Sweigart all had productive games.

"Hannah Daniel played incredible," Blaylock said. "She's been trying to find her footing, and I think she found her footing tonight. She played great. A lot of people stepped up tonight that haven't been producing as much. They all stepped up in a big way tonight."

With the sweep, the Lady Senators continue an impressive start to the season at home. Walters State has yet to drop a set in their four home matches this season.

"I think they're just more comfortable here," Blaylock said. "We've been in here practicing for over a year now, so I think we're more comfortable here. It definitely shows in the score."

It was Cleveland State who got off to a fast start in set one, going up 7-4. However, Walters State charged back and tied the set at nine. Then, it was Daniel with two straight kills to give the Lady Senators an 11-9 lead.

From there, Walters State continued to pour it on with kills from Davis, Buchanan and Oxendine. Oxendine also had an ace that made it 17-11. Cleveland State would never threaten again in the set as the Lady Senators took it 25-14.

Set two was a continuation of set one as Walters State got up 7-3. Cleveland State managed to come back and make it 9-6, but the Lady Senators had five straight points to pull away and make it 14-6. Sweigart and Alaysia McGhee contributed during that run. Walters State continued to dominate the rest of the way and took the set 25-12.

Much like the first set, it was Cleveland State who came out strong in the third set and led 3-1. But the Lady Senators bounced back and took the lead for good at 9-8. While Cleveland State would keep it close for awhile, Walters State eventually got up 18-11 and then closed the match out with a 25-14 set three victory.

UP NEXT:

Walters State will be back in action next Friday, Feb. 26, as they travel to take on the Bob Jones JV team. That match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics