Greenwood Christian Academy volleyball coach Kelsey Souders watched her team play to its potential Saturday afternoon.
The downside is it may have cost the Cougars a chance at a second sectional championship in three years.
GCA lost to Lutheran, 25-14, 26-24, 25-12 in the title match of the Class A sectional at Morristown. This came a short time after the Cougars rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win a five-set semifinal marathon against the host Yellow Jackets.
Led by the team’s two seniors, setter Rylie Scott and libero Avery Shingleton, the Cougars wound up winning two of its three postseason matches to finish with a 13-20 record. Souders also cited the play of outside hitters Izzy Reed, a sophomore, and Maggie Booher, a freshman.
“(The semifinal) was really awesome. I felt like it was a good redemption after they beat us in four sets on our senior night,” Souders said. “I really think those last three sets were the best we played all season.
“But against Lutheran I think we were pretty exhausted. We just weren’t where we needed to be.”
Souders felt the Cougars played their best volleyball at the end of the season, setting a good example for future GCA teams.
“Our postseason spoke a lot about us,” she said. “Overall, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I feel the players did everything I asked, and as a coach that makes you proud.”
