Fannin Finds No Mercy

Despite taking three out of four games played in a scrimmage with Pickens at Fannin County High School earlier in the week, the Lady Rebels volleyball team was swept by both the Pickens High School Dragonettes, and the Bobcats of Our Lady of Mercy, in the official debut matches of its inaugural season. Fannin fell 25-13, and 25-17 to the Dragonettes. The Lady Rebels lost 25-9, and 25-7 to the Bobcats.The Lady Rebels began the day battling early with the Dragonettes; however the experience of the “Nettes” seemed to be simply too much for the Lady Rebels. After both teams traded scores early, the Dragonettes Heather Fox, got her Dwight Howard on, with two blocks that resulted in two quick points. Fannin’s Amy Brownlee tied the game with two aces.

Both teams traded points back and forth until Pickens picked up its seventh point, breaking a 6-6, tie when Hope Cochran was called for a carry. Pickens then went on a 10-3 run before Fannin called a time out. Fannin was able to score three more points before Sara Dobbins out of bounds serve sealed the Fannin’s fate in game one.

Game two saw the Lady Rebels race out to a 3-0 lead on three straight aces by Chandler Byrd, that would have been the envy of any black jack player in Vegas. Pickens first point came via a carry by Lady Rebel, Mallory Arp. Pickens’ Fox picked up another point with a block and the game was tied after a series of spirited back and forth volleys.

Both teams traded leads and ties, with neither team securing more than a one point lead until the game was tied at 13 a piece. Pickens then pulled away with a 12-4 run.

The Lady Rebels next took on Our Lady of Mercy, who showed no mercy what so ever. OLM’s Olivia Schmitz and Mary Katherine Schmitz, took no flack, as they killed the Lady Rebels not so softly with their song, no matter what the score was. Olivia. Schmitz was a one woman killing machine, not seen since Terminator 3, as she racked up kill after kill, like Charlize Theron in “Monster,” with most of her set passes coming from Mary Katherine Schmitz.

The inexperienced Lady Rebels were unable to reach double digits in either game as the Bobcats pounced on Fannin early and often. The veteran Schmitz’s were simply unstoppable, leading one to wonder if coach Stanley was saying to himself, “O. Schmitz” every time one of them got set for the kill.