–Swain wins 59th straight SMC match in win over Andrews
10 October 2007By Toby Burrell-SID-Swain Co High School
BRYSONCITY - October 9, 2007 - Tuesday night the Lady Devils’ volleyball team notched at least a part of what they want in the end, a Smoky Mountain Conference regular season championship. Swain downed Andrews 3-0 and with the win moved to 11-0, mathematically clinching the regular season crown.
It was fitting that on a night they would clinch their fourth straight conference crown the Lady Devils would also honor seven seniors, who have been a part of every one of the four. Those seven seniors have also never lost a varsity conference match in their time together.
For these seniors, it was just another night at the office. And they still have a bit of unfinished business, at least according to captain Kristen Cook.
“This win is special for us,” commented Cook. “It was great to wrap it up on senior night, but we still have unfinished business. We want to finish out the conference season unbeaten, and we still want to win the conference tournament.”
Swain will finish out the regular season Wednesday at Cherokee. Next week they will travel to Hayesville for the conference tournament.
The seven seniors, Karin Beaudry, Kayla Jones, Kayla Stephens, Sierra Turtle, Joule Breedlove, Lauren Cook, and Kristen Cook, all cited chemistry as one of biggest factors in their 19-1 season record.
“We’ve played together all season,” said Jones. “Everyone gets along so well together; it really makes it fun every day.”
It hasn’t been fun for the rest of the Smoky Mountain Conference. The win Tuesday stretched the Lady Devils conference winning streak to 59 straight matches, that spans over four years now.
Still for these seven it was important that they get to secure the crown on their night in front of their fans. When the score reached 23 in game three of the match, coach Sonya Blankenship subbed for six of her seven seniors. They left the court, to a standing ovation from the Swain faithful, together.
“It’s was really great to be able to leave the court together,” added captain Lauren Cook. “It felt really good to come off the court together, I don’t think we could have asked for a better ending to our senior night.”
Wednesday’s match will mark the end to the first part of the Lady Devils season. Swain still has plenty of volleyball left to play as the conference tournament and then playoffs get under way.
If the first part of the season is any indication, this group will take whatever comes their way. And it is almost certain they will take it together.
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