GDW Analysis:
HANCEVILLE: JB Pennington left Lane Horton Gymnasium Tuesday breathing a sigh of relief after surviving a challenge by Hanceville to finish the regular season.
Pennington defeated Hanceville 3 games to 1 and will go into the AHSAA 3A, Area 11 Tournament next week at Holly Pond 3rd in the standings at 4 & 4.
Hanceville had posted its first area victory Monday night in sweeping Locust Fork 3 to 0.
Both complete the area schedule at 1 & 7 and will tangle on October 16 in the area tournament quarterfinals with the winner to face No. 1 seed Holly Pond in the semifinal round.
Pennington moved ahead 1 to 0 in the match with a 25 to 16 triumph.
Hanceville answered with a strong comeback for a 25 to 23 victory in the 2nd set.
Pennington was able to do enough when the last two sets went to the wire. The Lady Tigers earned a 25 to 21 win in Game 2 and finished the set at 5:34 p.m. by a 25 to 22 final.
Four seniors went on a good outing for Hanceville. Eden Clements and Bentley Childers were astounding in serving and defending.
The play up front from Bella McAfee and Eva Giles was a spark with this match almost going into a 5th set.
Pennington got by Hanceville 3 to 2 on September 4 in Blountsville.
The Lady Tigers understood Hanceville was looking to take momentum into the postseason and Pennington snared it from Hanceville's grasp.
Giving good play in the final time to be on the floor of Lane Horton Gym were juniors Alex Twitty, Josi Jones and Lexi Link.
Twitty stood out in her role as an attacker with Jones mixing in steady play from the front line and back row. Link was steady from a series of good serves, especially in the final set.
A service point by Link with a kill from Jones got Hanceville within 23 to 22 in Game 4.
Pennington then broke serve and would claim victory in the final set with the last two points being scored on solid kills from the front row.
Photo from the Hanceville bench in their volleyball match vs. JB Pennington Tuesday from Lane Horton Gym.
GDW photo by Johnny Thornton.
