The Lady Indians’ amazing run concluded in a GIAA State Championship match Saturday in Rome at Shorter University. #4-ranked TFS fought to the final point in a 3-1 final against #3 St. Anne Pacelli.
- Set 1: 25-15
- Set 2: 17-25
- Set 3: 17-25
- Set 4: 22-25
From the opening set, Tallulah Falls had momentum. Rebecca Heyl had a quick kill, and Corinne Swinton added two aces with Lily Smith adding a kill for a 7-2 lead. Margalida Amengual Sanchez dumped in a kill moments later to force a timeout by St. Anne Pacelli.
Heyl added three more kills and an ace as TFS pulled ahead 18-9. Sofia Livianos had three crushing spikes down the line, Smith added another big one, and Shelby Whisnant recorded an ace to clinch the set win at 25-15.
In the second set, the Lady Indians were forced to call a timeout after getting down 10-5, despite a nice ace from Sanchez and blocks by Heyl and Swinton. The remainder of the set went mostly in favor of St. Anne Pacelli, though Whisnant added back-to-back aces and TFS pulled back within six at one point. It was 17-25 to even the match at a set apiece.
Both sides traded blows early in the third set, with Swinton, Livianos, and Heyl notching kills and Sanchez a clutch ace. Whisnant added back-to-back aces and Swinton a kill about midway through as the teams were tied at 12.
The Lady Indians burned a timeout after seeing Pacelli go ahead 15-12. They would not relinquish the lead, as they’d go on to take the set 25-17 to put TFS at the brink.
Swinton and Heyl kicked off the fourth set with consecutive kills to push Tallulah out to a 3-0 start. Livianos played with passion and ignited the crowd with several heavy kills.
Swinton added some spikes as did Smith, as Pacelli regrouped with a timeout after a 15-9 TFS lead. The tides turned as St. Anne Pacelli rallied to get within 16-15, making TFS spend a timeout as well.
Down to a 23-16 deficit, the Lady Indians dug deep. Heyl smashed a couple kills and Sanchez dropped in an ace to make it a 22-23 score.
St. Anne grabbed the final three points to win the championship in the 3-1 final. The Lady Indians finish as State Runner-Up, going 27-9 on the season. Heyl led with 13 kills, and Livianos had 12. Whisnant led with five aces, while Sanchez added three.
Kills
- Heyl – 13
- Livianos – 12
- Swinton – 7
- Smith – 4
- Sanchez – 2
Aces
- Whisnant – 5
- Sanchez – 3
- Swinton – 2
- Smith – 2
- Heyl – 1
Blocks
- Swinton – 1
- Heyl – 1
