CANTON SWEEPS PAST ATHENS

By: Tim Birney  /  September 6, 2022  /  Photo: JOE CARREON

CANTON — Canton continued it strong early-season play, sweeping Athens here Tuesday night to improve to 3-0 in NTL volleyball action.

The Lady Warriors won by scores of 25-17, 25-17, and 25-21.

“Tonight was the Wildcats versus the Wildcats,” said Athens coach Heather Hanson. “If we got the serve over, then we couldn’t get the pass. If we got the pass, we couldn’t get the hit. There was no fun in our fundamentals tonight.

“Maybe it was having a three-day break and only practicing on Monday that got us,” noted Hanson. “These girls play hard and work hard. So do other teams, so we always need to rise to the occasion and be psyched up and we were not tonight.

“I am going to take my own advice with what I told the girl,” she added. “There is no sense dwelling on it. It will waste too much time and that time needs to be focused on getting reworked for CV (Thursday) and the Williamson Tournament this Saturday.

Jenny Ryan led Athens with 12 digs, 10 setter assists, four kills, and block, while Kassie Babcock had 10 digs, two kills, and one block, and Audrey Clare had three points, including two aces, seven kills, six digs, and two assists.

“Jenny Ryan played great tonight having a solo block as a 5-3 setter and being our top hitter,” said Hanson. “Kassie Babcock had some huge hits, getting some momentum going.”

Braelynn Wood four kills and eight digs for the Lady Wildcats, while Ella Coyle nine digs and two kills, and, Cailin McDaniel had two points, two kills, and one block.

Athens, now 1-1, hosts Cowanesque Valley Thursday.