The Ava 7th and 8th grade volleyball teams started the season off with two home matches, and two wins!
On Sept. 8 Ava was host to the West Plains Zizzers. Ava 7th grade won the match in three games.
Ava won the first game 25-16, but game two went to West Plains 23-35. Ava came back strong in game three and won the match 25-12. Ava 7th grade played very well, setting the ball up and hitting hard at West Plains. Ava setter Cera Longino set the ball 28/28, and setter Shelby Bushong set the ball 12/12 to create a lot of hits for Ava. Shelby led the way in hitting with 7 for 10 hits, Kira Collett was 4/4 hitting and Sandra Buff and Morgan Miller were each 2/2 hitting.
Ava was also led by very strong serving from Cera Longino who served 22/25 with three ace serves. Cera also passed 46/48 in the match. Sandra Buff served 13/13 and passed 16/19; Kira Collett was 10/13 serving and 41/42 passing; Maci Jones was 4/5 serving; Shelby Bushong served 7/8 and passed 44/50.
Coach Leonard said, “As a team we served 86% which I am very pleased with for our first match of the season.”
The 7th grade also played an extra 10-minute game with the Zizzers which West Plains was leading 15-17 at the end of the time period. Shae Wagner served 4/4 and passed 2/2; Lacy Diel passed 5/5; Tarrah Goforth served 3/3 and Emily Bailey served 3/4 and passed 2/2.
Ava 8th grade started the season beating the Zizzers in a two game match. Ava won game one 25-14, and the Lady Bears pulled out a close game two to win the match 26-24. Allison Welch led the team in serving, going 11/12; Keeley Deal served 9/11 and also put in point 26 to end game two. Setter Bailey Loge served 6/6, passed 20/22 and set 11/11. She had two hits and one tip for Ava. Setter Caley Wallace set 12/13 and had seven hits; Hunter Shelton was 9/10 passing and 2/2 hitting; Haley Barker passed 5/5 and Hope Evans was 4/5 serving, 3/3 setting and 3/4 hitting.
The 8th grade also played an extra 10-minute game with West Plains. Ava was down 15-17 at the end of 10 minutes.
Mallory Allen had very strong serves, serving 6/6. She was also 2/2 passing; Billlie Haden was 2/3 passing and had one hit for Ava; Katelyn Walker was 2/3 serving and 2/2 hitting; Brittany Shields served 2/2; Kayla Walker was 5/5 passing and 1/1 serving; and Molly Henderson was 2/2 serving.
On Sept. 12, Ava was host to the Willow Springs Bears. Ava won both the 7th and 8th grade matches in two games.
Ava 7th grade won game one 25-13 and game two 25-3. Only missing two serves in the match helped Ava with their dominating win over the Willow Bears.
Shelby Bushong was 11/11 serving; 14/14 passing, 3/3 setting and 3/4 hitting; Paden Coonce was 11/12 serving, 6/6 passing and had one hit; Sandra Buff was 6/6 serving, 4/4 passing and had one hit; Kira Collett was 4/5 serving, 9/11 passing and had one hit; Morgan Miller came in and served 2/2 and passed 2/3; Cera Longino served 4/4, passed 16/18, set 7/8 and had one hit, and Maci Jones served 4/4.
The girls played an extra 10-minute game which Ava was leading 20-15 at the end of 10 minutes. Maci Jones served 2/2 and passed 2/2; Morgan Miller served 3/3 and passed 2/2; Shae Wagner served 3/3 and passed 3/5; Emily Bailey served 1/1 and passed 2/2 and Ashton Stanton served 1/1 and passed 1/1.
Ava 8th grade also dominated the Bears from Willow in game one winning 25-13, and game two 25-18.
Keeley Deal exhibited very strong serving, going 12/12 with three ace serves. Bailey Loge served 7/8 with five ace serves; she also passed 14/18 set 4/4, had three hits and three tips.
Hunter Shelton was 10/13 passing and had one hit; Caley Wallace was 7/8 serving, 10/11 passing, 5/5 setting, 3/3 hitting and one tip; Allison Welch served 5/5, and passed 13/16; Hope Evans was 6/7 passing, 2/2 setting and 2/2 hitting and Katelyn Walker came in and served 3/3 with one ace serve.
The 8th grade was leading the extra 10-minute game 20 – 13 at the end of time. Katelyn Walker served 4/4 with one ace, passed 2/2 and had one hit; Kayla Walker was 3/3 setting, 5/7 passing and 2/3 serving; Molly Henderson was 5/6 serving with one ace; Mallory Allen was 2/3 serving and 4/5 passing; Billie Haden was 1/1 serving, and Brittany Shields was 1-for-2 serving and 2-for-3 passing.
Ava MS will play again on Monday, Sept. 19 in Willow Springs. The 7th grade match will begin at 5:30.
