It’s all starting to come together for the WCMS volleyball team. The Lady Pioneers won their second-straight matchup Thursday, defeating Shelbyville Harris on the road in straight sets.
Warren County took the match swiftly, winning 25-10 and 25-22 to even its record at 4-4 this year. The Lady Pioneers also kept the door open on making a run at the Central Tennessee Conference championship, though it will be a complicated path.
Before thinking of a CTC title, coach Holly Palombo wanted her team to finish off a sweep against Shelbyville. Her girls obliged in workmanlike fashion on the road.
“The girls played well. We were consistent with our serves and it made a huge difference,” said Palombo. “We knew we had to win this game and the girls went out and made it happen. I’m proud of them.”
A win Thursday meant the Lady Pioneers could be on a collision course for a three-way tie for the CTC crown. If the Lady Pioneers can win out (they have three home matches coming up against Franklin North, Franklin South and Tullahoma), they could catch Coffee County and Tullahoma in the standings.
Warren County has already split with Coffee County this year, thanks to a road win last week, but will need to take down Tullahoma after losing to the Lady Wildcats back in August.
If they get the same individual performances as they did Thursday in Shelbyville, it could happen.
Sarah Kate Winfree had a great net presence that helped Warren County jump out to a big lead in the first set. Winfree went on to finish with three kills (tied with Brynlee Chisam for the team lead). Aubrey Oleksik’s serve kept the team rolling, completing a blowout in the first set before a nailbiter in the second.
Oleksik finished with a team-high six aces, while Chisam added four. Ali Young and Alyssa Boyd chipped in four and two aces, respectively.
Young was the team’s top setter, handing out five assists. Oleksik and Jenna Mullins had two assists apiece.
Natalie Payne helped with two kills in the victory, while Mullins, Oleksik and Presley Winfree had one kill each against Shelbyville.
Warren County will try to take one more step toward a CTC championship when it hosts Franklin North at home. Action starts at 5 p.m.
