By Adam Carrington
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer
The Pope volleyball team isn't taking anything for granted. They've already suffered the consequences.
The third-ranked Lady Greyhounds are undefeated in Area 1AAAAA competition and are favored to defend their area title, but they paid a tough price earlier in the season when they didn't come prepared for a match - a three-game loss to Kell in the quarterfinals of the Cobb County Invitational.
Taking one match at a time and not looking too far ahead are the two areas the top-seeded Lady Greyhounds (36-3) are concentrating on when the Area 1AAAAA tournament gets under way today at Sprayberry High School. The semifinals and finals will continue Saturday at Walton.
"Our focus is to take it one match at a time," Pope coach Bryan Jones said. "Just a couple of weeks ago, we overlooked an opponent in Kell, and they came back and bit us. Our focus is the match at hand. Obviously, our goal is to win the area, but we have to get by some really good teams."
Setter Maggie Hoey is having a career year for Pope with 687 assists and 198 digs. Her sister Mary Hoey is leading the offense with 271 kills, and hitter Caroline Baudrand is the leader in digs with 225.
Lassiter, Kell and Walton are evenly matched this season, and all three are capable of giving Pope trouble. All three teams finished 4-2 in the area and the deciding tiebreaker placed Kell at No. 2, Lassiter at No. 3 and Walton at No. 4. Sprayberry is seeded fifth, Wheeler is No. 6 and Campbell is No. 7.
"I think everyone has got an equal chance in this area. Sprayberry is a good team as well," Kell coach Gena Ridings said. "It's a real tough area. It always has been and always will be. We've shown that we can beat teams, but I think (winning area) will be a matter of consistency."
Ridings said Kell (25-18) has emerged as a strong all-around team. Hitters Katherine Wright and Amanda Jones are having solid seasons up front, and Taylor O'Brien has been consistent as the team setter. Libero Camille Pedraza is also a weapon on the back row, especially when she serves.
Lassiter (27-16) started slowly after losing a large class of seniors to graduation, but has been able to put it all together over the last couple of weeks. They nearly defended their Cobb County title, taking KMHS to five games in the championship. Middle blocker Taylor Montgomery has dominated the net this weekend, leading the team with 297 kills and 100 solo blocks. Outside hitter Hannah Reinke is second in kills with 200 and Emily Weissert is closing in on 800 assists.
Hitters Sarah Schneider and Rachel Doctor, middle blocker Leah Best and setter Beyza Kilic will lead the way for Walton.
acarrington@mdjonline.com
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GO LONGHORNS!!