Another victory by Good Hope Lady Raiders' volleyball:
Six wins in a row in hard fought sweep vs. Cold Springs Monday:
GDW Analysis:
GOOD HOPE: Cold Springs' Lady Eagles played in Good Hope's Volley Brawl Saturday.
The Lady Eagles returned to Good Hope Gymnasium Monday out to slow down a Lady Raiders' squad that carried them to the championship for the first time in hosting their early season event.
Cold Springs challenged Good Hope, but the Lady Raiders claimed a sweep in their opener of Cullman County volleyball by scores of 25 to 22, 25 to 21 and 25 to 15.
The sweep was played in 1 hour and 12 minutes.
Kate Peek had her Cold Springs group ready to go. In the opener, the Lady Eagles and Lady Raiders were tied in the set 14 times.
Good Hope got the lead at 23 to 22 on a Bella White kill and consecutive service points by senior Emma Herring ended the opener and a 25 to 22 final.
The 2nd set went to Good Hope once they were able to overcome a 5 to 4 deficit and lead 15 to 9 behind a solid kill from freshman Isabella Guzman.
Moments later, Natasha Holder's Lady Raiders had the Lady Eagles down 21 to 11.
Cold Springs never surrendered with the Lady Eagles being carried by several kills near the net from junior Kelsey Wilson.
Wilson gained a service point to get her team on the cusp of a comeback, trailing 22 to 19.
Good Hope claimed a service break and closed out the set on a cross court kill by sophomore Gracie Garmon.
Having the momentum, the Lady Raiders went on top immediately in the final set.
White presented her team a point with a kill and it was 11 to 4 Good Hope.
Once more, a rally by Cold Springs. Two kills from Kotie Calvert had them in a surge to trail 15 to 11.
Guzman again displayed her solid play attacking with a kill and a 20 to 11 margin.
Cold Springs did what was possible to extend the match to a 4th set, but was unable to when the Lady Eagles served the ball into the net to end the contest at 6:44 p.m.
All of the wins for the Lady Raiders have been on the floor with six in the span of 3 days.
Good Hope was 5 & 0 in its Volley Brawl on August 23.
The have the best record in the county less than a week into the season at 6 & 2 and are 1 & 0 in the county standings.
Steady play early in the season has come from Herring, Guzman, Lexi Marshall, Caselyn Whatley, White, Maggie O'Neal and Campbell Koch.
Cold Springs is a young group with one senior in Cheyenne Bishop.
GDW has seen the Lady Eagles play in their opener last Thursday with Hanceville then in the Volley Brawl last Saturday.
Wilson has set the trend of getting off to a good start in 2025 along with Hollyn Bruer, Allie Light, Joli Williams, Miranda Dykes.
Cold Springs will be in a tri match at Holly Pond Thursday. JB Pennington will be there as well for that is area play for Holly Pond.
Good Hope looks to win on the road for the first time in a tri match at Mortimer Jordan Thursday. The Lady Raiders will play Mortimer Jordan and Pell City.
Photo of the Cold Springs Lady Eagles warming up in their match at Good Hope Gymnasium Monday vs. the Lady Raiders.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
