Mabel sweeps trimatch
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
Mabel made the most of its final home trimatch by beating Valle Crucis 2-0 and Bethel 2-0 in middle school volleyball Monday.
Mabel took Valle Crucis 25-13, 26-24, and Bethel 25-22, 25-15. Valle Crucis needed three sets to beat Bethel 16-25, 25-17, 15-11.
Mabel, which honored its eighth-grade players before their match with Bethel, led Valle Crucis 10-9 before going on an 11-1 run against the Cougars to take a 22-11 lead in the first set. The Mustangs scored three of the next five points to win the set.
The Mustangs’ win the second set took longer. Valle Crucis led most of the set, but not by more than three points. Mabel shook off three set points to tie the Cougars 24-24 on a Kristy Cook ace.
Cook delivered a second ace on her next serve, and Valle Crucis could not return Cook’s next serve to capture the set.
Valle Crucis fell in its first set to Bethel after falling behind 20-11 in the first set and could not get any closer. Bethel took a 4-0 lead, but Valle Crucis rallied to take a 10-8 lead. The Cougars increased their lead to 22-14 lead, and got their final point on an Olivia Williamson ace.
The Cougars broke open an 11-10 lead by outscoring Bethel 4-1 in the set’s final five points.
Mabel took a 6-0 lead on Bethel in its first set and never let Bethel take the lead, although Bethel pulled to 13-12. Cook served the final point of the set when Bethel could not return her serve.
Mabel won the second set by pilling away from a 6-6 tie. Mabel led 16-13 and scored the next eight points. Bethel scored twice before the Mustangs closed out the match.
In other matches, Green Valley swept Cove Creek 25-7, 25-8. Hardin Park beat Blowing Rock 25-13, 25-14 and Parkway 25-14, 25-23. Parkway beat Blowing Rock 25-19, 25-19.

