GMCS opened up with three pool play games against Family of Faith, Immanuel Lutheran, and Gospel Light. The Volley Saints would go 2-1 in those games and come out of their side as the #2 seed for bracket play. GMCS beat Family of Faith 25-16, 25-17, and beat Immanuel Lutheran 26-24, 25-14. They dropped their match to Gospel Light 25-14, 25-17. Gospel Light beat GMCS in the Finals last season. In pool play, Gracy Martin had a team high 17 aces, Martin also added 5 kills, and 4 digs. Silbi Jones had 13 kills and 7 aces. Baylee Pogue had a combined 9 kills, an ace, and 2 digs. Kynlee Glass had 6 aces, 2 digs, and 1 kill during pool play. Heaven Garcia got her first kill of the season during pool play, along with 2 aces, and 6 digs. Addy Peek had 7 digs and 2 aces and Katie Holland 4 digs and 2 aces. Laila Santifer finished pool play with 3 aces and 4 digs, while Savannah Fields had 3 kills, 1 ace, and 1 dig. Brailyn Almand had 2 digs.Â
In bracket play, GMCS defeated Cookson Hills in straight sets 25-16, 25-18 in the quarterfinals to earn a birth in the Semis against Liberty. Brailyn Almand would lead the way with 5 aces. Almand would also add 2 kills and 2 digs. Silbi Jones had 2 kills and 4 aces, and Gracy Martin had 2 aces and 1 kill. Katie Holland had 1 kill, 1 ace, and 2 digs. Kynlee Glass and Addy Peek each had 3 aces, Peek had 2 digs and Glass added 1 dig. Heaven Garcia had 2 digs and Baylee Pogue added 1 kill.Â
In the Semifinals, Liberty would prove to be a very formidable opponent, topping GMCS 25-15, 25-13, as Liberty would go on to win a state championship. Baylee Pogue had a team-high 5 kills in this match, along with 2 digs. Kynlee Glass and Silbi Jones would each have a team-high 2 aces, each would have 2 digs as well. Jones would add a kill. Laila Santifer and Heaven Garcia each would led the team with 3 digs. Santifer would add an ace at the service line. Addy Peek would have 2 digs and Savannah Fields would add an ace.Â
Good performance by the Volley Saints on Friday, as they advanced to be a final-four team in their division. Gracy Martin had a great day on the court, as she was the lone senior at the state tournament for GMCS. With that being said, GMCS will have a lot returning next season, including 2 sophomores and 4 freshman off of this team. A lot to look forward to with this group. Great season by the Saints and they will have one more game in Spring Hill on Monday.Â