Robbinsville, Murphy meet Thursday night
Robbinsville – Admittedly, the last time the Lady Knights faced Murphy, Robbinsville was not where it needed to be.
Coming off a two-week layoff and beginning a 5-match road trip, the Knights were swept by the Lady Bulldogs, who still sit atop the Smoky Mountain Conference three weeks after the initial meeting.
But now, Robbinsville holds all the cards.
This afternoon’s match-up will be played in Graham County. No loss of play or road-weary feelings to be thrown around either, since the Lady Knights (15-2, 6-1) have played their last four matches at home and are on an 8-match winning streak.
To say senior night against Murphy (14-1) is big would be an understatement.
“Considering how our season has not played out ideally, they’ve rose to the occasion,” said Robbinsville head coach Kadey Phillips. “I’ve been preaching to the girls about not having a lot of practice and gym time, so we’ve got to use every game we have as that time.
“The first time we played Murphy, we were not in the best place. Coming back now – with more game time – I think we’re ready.”
Recent sweeps have came against Nantahala on Sept. 29 (5-25, 5-25, 11-25); Swain County on Sept. 30 (16-25, 16-25, 13-25); Andrews on Monday (17-25, 13-25, 15-25) and the formidable pairing of the stretch, Tuesday against Cherokee.
Robbinsville has only been pushed past three sets in four of its 17 matches thus far this year. One of those came against the Lady Braves (8-9, 3-4) on Sept. 22, which saw Cherokee win the first set, before the Lady Knights rallied back to prevail in four sets.
But not Tuesday. Though set two proved to be a neck-in-neck battle, Phillips testified to her team’s effort in clinching Robbinsville’s 12th sweep of the year.
“We definitely were more prepared tonight,” Phillips said. “I thought the girls played their hearts out.
“Ivy (Odom) had a great defensive game. She had some hard hits come her way and this is her first season playing (on the) back row. She really stepped up. Delaney (Brooms) had some strong kills and Yeika (Jimenez) had some solid blocks. It really was a good, team win.”
JV, middle school
The junior varsity Lady Knights (8-6) took set one against Swain County on Sept. 30, 22-25, but ultimately fell 25-17, 15-13 across the next two sets.
But Robbinsville rebounded in its matches against Andrews, sweeping the Lady Wildcats 22-25, 19-25 on Monday and Cherokee on Tuesday, 13-25, 17-25.
Robbinsville (5-4) also fell to Swain County 25-18, 25-13 in the middle school affair Sept. 30, but pulled together to knock off Andrews 16-25, 22-25 and Cherokee 25-18, 21-25, 5-15.