After both lost to North Paulding, which is now riding a 25-match win streak, Adairsville exhibited command of its match with Coosa, winning early and late — 25-21, 20-25, 25-11.
Despite nine ties in Game 1, including an 18-all score, the Lady Tigers closed the Lady Eagles out as Stormy Tomblin delivered three aces and Ashley Metroka registered two kills for a 25-21 win. Tomblin finished with four aces, Metroka had three kills and Stephanie Kuhrt added two kills.
Coosa displayed more urgency in its second game against Adairsville as the Lady Eagles, who never trailed by more than three points, rallied back to take their first lead of the game at 20-17, scoring three straight points to do so.
Lady Tigers coach Jessica Rivers called a timeout to steady her team but even after Adairsville came within a point of tying the game at 21-all, Coosa reeled off fourth points in a row to force a decisive third game.
Before the third game, a Georgia High School Association official pulled both teams’ captains, Metroka and the Lady Eagles’ Tracie Moten, to the side as each side agreed on 25 as the mark for the final game, rather than 15.
Coosa opened with a 4-0 lead, which drew an early timeout from Rivers.
The second-year Adairsville coach instructed her team to close out its foe.
The Lady Tigers responded with four quick points, including an ace from Zina Chatman. Adairsville later scored three more points for a 7-5 advantage, forcing the Lady Eagles’ Katherine Ross to ask officials for a few minutes with her team.
Though Coosa came within 8-7 at one point, the Lady Tigers began to pull away with nine consecutive points — including five aces from Metroka — before Ross signaled for another TO with her team down 17-7.
Rivers complimented her players for serving the way they did down the stretch, noting they work on that aspect of their game. Metroka added one more ace and a couple more kills to earn a 14-point win, Adairsville’s fourth match won this season.
In the first match of the night, the Area 6-AA/A Lady Tigers lost to the Lady Wolfpack, an Area 5N-AAAA team, by a score of 25-6, 25-9. North Paulding also dispatched Coosa in two sets, not allowing the Lady Eagles a single point.
Rivers said it was important for her team to grab a win with the area portion of the schedule nearing. Adairsville plays Thursday at Temple, where it also will face Calhoun, both area foes.
Offensive contributors in the tri-match included Metroka, 10 kills, seven aces, two blocks; Kuhrt, five kills, block; Chatman, four aces, assist; Amber Litterall, four aces; Tomblin, five aces; Evin Atkins, assist; Madison Head, ace; Emily Sexauer, two assists; and Kelsy Hice, ace.