Fairfield volleyball ends season as district runners-up
Pictured for the district runner-up Fairfield Lady Lions (l-r) are head coach Jerrica Stackhouse, Mya McIntosh, Alyssa Bales, Jorja May, Jobey Hattan, Kelsey Clark, Remi Moon, McKinley Cox, Mackenzie Anderson and assistant coaches Stephanie Haines and Lesley Hattan. (HCP Photos/Stephen Forsha)
WELLSTON — Coming out strong in the first set on Saturday, the Fairfield Lady Lions showcased their skill and competitiveness in the Division VI SE District Finals match against the No. 2 seeded Nelsonville-York Buckeyes at Wellston High School.
Though No. 6 seeded Fairfield didn’t make things easy against NYHS, winning the first set, it was the Buckeyes winning the next three sets to end the season for Fairfield, as FHS finished as district runners-up for the first time in program history.
“I couldn't be more proud of them,” Fairfield head coach Jerrica Stackhouse said. “They came up and showed them what we could do in first set, and then we just couldn't execute anymore after
that.
“We made the district final for the first time in program history. Hopefully this is a start in continuing this trend. This year, I think the girls after today, we went 18-7. Can't fault that. It's probably the second-best record we've had at Fairfield.”
The district final game for Fairfield was their first appearance in a district final for volleyball, and they won their first-ever district final set by a 25-22 score. From there, NYHS won the next three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-16.
Fairfield’s set-one win included 12 tied scores in what was the most complete set played by the Lady Lions Saturday afternoon. Although Nelsonville-York scored first with a 2-0 lead, FHS came back by tying the score at 2-1 with a point by senior Kelsey Clark.
Later, FHS tied the score at 3-3 with a ball hit by senior Mackenzie Anderson. The Lady Lions took the lead with a point by senior Jobey Hattan, and eventually Fairfield held a 6-3 lead with an out-of-play hit by the Buckeyes, plus a kill from Hattan.
Nelsonville-York rallied to tie the score at 7-7, then after FHS regained the lead, the score was tied again at 8-8, as the Buckeyes eventually built a 10-8 lead. FHS tied the score at 10-10, then took a two-point lead with a kill by sophomore Remi Moon and an out-of-play hit by NYHS.
The score was tied at 12, then again from points 14 through 18, as Moon tied the score for FHS at 18-18. Moon then put Fairfield ahead at 19-18 with a point scored, forcing NYHS to call a timeout.
From there, FHS had points by Anderson and Clark for a 22-18 advantage. The score got closer with a small rally by the Buckeyes for a 23-22 FHS lead, as the Lady Lions called a timeout. FHS took a one-point lead with a point scored by Anderson, and following a NYHS timeout, Anderson put the first set to a close with another point scored for the set-one win at 25-22.
Set two was mostly Nelsonville-York, though Fairfield held a lead at 3-1 with an ace by Moon. The score was tied three times at 1-1, 3-3 and 4-4, but after NYHS took a 5-4 advantage, they never relinquished the lead, though some of the remaining points scored by FHS came from Anderson, Hattan and an ace by senior McKinley Cox.
Nelsonville-York eventually fended off Fairfield in set two with a 25-16 victory.
The third set started with Fairfield scoring first, but ties eventually came into play at 1-1, 5-5, 6-6, 9-9 and 10-10. After the Buckeyes took the 11-10 lead, they didn’t trail for the remainder of the third set, with NYHS winning set three at 25-21.
Nelsonville-York led the entire fourth set to win the set at 25-16 and the match at 3-1.
Seniors for Fairfield are Jobey Hattan, Mackenzie Anderson, McKinley Cox and Kelsey Clark.
“I’ve got four that we have to replace for next season, and it's going to be tough,” Stackhouse said. “They carried us all year.”
Fairfield ends the season at 18-7 overall. In Southern Hills Athletic Conference play this season, FHS won the Division II SHAC championship with a 12-1 record. In the postseason, FHS went 2-1.
“I just want these girls to know just how proud I am of them,” Stackhouse said of the Lady Lions’ season.
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