Sometimes you just run into a team that turns out to be better. That was the case on Saturday evening for the Fulton Hornets volleyball team. Facing the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats in Roger D. Davis Gymnasium, the Hornets had their season ended by Logan-Rogersville for the second straight year by scores of 25-20 and 25-14. The state quarterfinal finish is the best in school history for coach Megan Herrick's squad who, by all accounts, accomplished every goal they set for the season.
"Our season goal was to make it to the elite eight so after that first game we were so excited and happy," Herrick said. "That was our goal and what we set out to do and we did it and I'm proud of them for it."
Herrick's senior heavy team bulled its way past Eldon in the state quarterfinal round setting up the rematch with Logan-Rogersville. The first game featured a Fulton team that, while satisfied with getting past the first round, was intent on not having a repeat of last season's loss. The Wildcats' active front line helped gain a lead that they wouldn't relinquish but an equally determined Fulton team was all over the court, keeping the game close throughout.
"We had a few key hitters and they had like six key hitters," Herrick said. "And that makes a difference and their defense was all over the place and there were no holes to take advantage of."
It appeared that Fulton (28-9) might have carried that momentum into the second game, but the WIldcats (32-3-3) put the kibosh on that soon enough. They methodically built a 23-10 lead, putting Fulton down to its final two points. They turned it around with a four point run but just ran out of points in the end.
"They (Logan-Rogersville) just kind of pulled away," Herrick said. "They were tough and fast, which is what we expected from last year but they were just the better team."
Senior outside hitter Haley Clark racked up 20 kills in her final Fulton match, while fellow senior hitter Meghan Davis added eight kills and nine digs in the game. Sophomore setter Melissa Hoerber had 32 assists and 10 digs. Senior libero Emily Wefenstette, also playing her final game, added seven digs.
"I still think our girls played well and we showed what we were made of," Herrick said. "They made a run on us, had starter injured and it hurt us mentally but I think we pulled through it."