DALTON VOLLEYBALL: Lady Dawgs battle hard during split week

PHOTOS BY AMBER DOTY

Dalton’s Amelia Knetzer at Thursday’s game hosted by Smithville. 

Mia Weaver tips the ball over the net Thursday against Smithville. Weaver finished the game with 13 points, one ace and seven kills. Adrianne Alger ( No. 9) had 54 assists.

By ARIEL STAHLER
DGKN sports writer

Dalton High School’s varsity volleyball team won over St. Vincent St. Mary at the beginning of the week, but then fell to Smithville.

The Lady Dawgs’ overall record is now 7-4 and they are 5-1 against Wayne County Athletic League opponents.

St. Vincent St. Mary traveled to Dalton on Sept. 15 and the Lady Dawgs defeated the Irish 25-13, 25-18, 25-21. Brennah Arnold collected 14 points, two aces, seven kills and 10 digs.

Abbi Snyder finished with nine points and three aces. Landree Siders put up six points, one ace and 15 digs. Tess Denning led with nine kills.

Mia Weaver and Amelia Knetzer both had seven kills. Weaver also had one solo block and three assist blocks. Adrianne Alger had 32 assists.

“We played well and came out with a three-set win,” said Dalton’s head coach Allison Hostetler. “SVSM always gives us a good fight and it was great to see the girls come out strong from the beginning and be able to keep up the aggressive play and win in three.”

Dalton fought against host Smithville on Sept. 17, but they ultimately ended up losing 17-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20, 15-13.

“We knew that game was going to be a hard-fought battle and that we needed to be playing at the top of our game,” said Hostetler. “Our team came out the best I have seen them playing this year. Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to finish any of the last three sets.”

Weaver finished with 13 points, one ace and seven kills. Siders had 10 points, four aces and nine digs. Arnold recorded 24 kills, 11 digs, one solo block and two assist blocks. Alger had 54 assists. Snyder was the top defender with 13 digs.

Hostetler described the challenges her team has faced. “This season, we have struggled to maintain our high level of play and energy we need throughout a whole match,” she said. “The majority of times we have still been able to win, but when you play a strong opponent like Smithville, we can’t give them that opportunity.”

Although it was not a win, Hostetler was nonetheless happy with her team’s play against the Smithies. “Even though it wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for, I, and the rest of the coaching staff, am extremely proud of how these girls played Thursday,” she said. “We saw so many positives, such as our aggressive blocking at the net, our defense behind and our powerful offense. We have a lot of season left, and I think this just makes these girls more determined to go after what they want to achieve this season.”

Follow Ariel on Twitter @AStahlerDGKNews