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Alexia Valerio runs after the ball for the Mustangs. (ZACHARY SEIFTER/ ADVERTISER)

Isabella defeated Fayetteville in three straight sets on Sept. 30. (ZACHARY SEIFTER/ ADVERTISER)

Lexi Higgins and Jaiden Cummings attempt to block the ball for Isabella. (ZACHARY SEIFTER/ ADVERTISER)

Fayetteville serves the ball in its second set against Isabella. (ZACHARY SEIFTER/ ADVERTISER)

Isabella won its sets over Fayetteville by scores of 25-11, 25-21 and 25-17. (ZACHARY SEIFTER/ ADVERTISER)

By ZACHARY SEIFTER/ Staff Writer

Isabella High School’s varsity volleyball team defeated Fayetteville High School in three straight sets on Sept. 30. The victory improved Isabella’s record to 17-4 on the season.

The Mustangs came out swinging in the match. In the first set, they jumped out to an 8-4 lead. That lead only continued to grow as the set went on.

Karsen Morris was particularly strong in the set, collecting three straight aces midway through to get the score to 18-8 in favor of Isabella. The Mustangs went on to win the first set 25-11.

“They always start out really strong,” Isabella head coach Kacie Adams said. “Then, we always struggle with staying on top of it and staying on the gas.”

That trend held true in this match as Fayetteville showed a lot of fight in the last two sets.

The second set was a back-and-forth affair. The teams traded blows the whole time, but after jumping out to a small lead early on, Isabella was able to hold on to secure a 25-21 victory.

Fayetteville had opportunities to win the set. The score was as close as 20-18 at one point, but it was Isabella that ended up on top, taking a 2-0 advantage into the third set.

In the third set, Fayetteville did not go quietly. The Wolves took an early lead, jumping out to a 7-4 advantage. They were able to keep that lead in the first half of the set, but the Mustangs eventually took over, taking a 16-14 lead in the second half of the set. They went on to win 25-17.

“It really comes down to that no matter who we put in, everybody is performing,” Adams said. “We can put in any setter, middle hitter, outside passer, they’re all doing what they’re supposed to do, and they’re all coming together as a team at the right time.”

The victory comes ahead of the Chilton County volleyball tournament on Oct. 2. Isabella has some momentum going into the tournament, and they will face off against Chilton County High School in the third matchup of the day. The winner of that game will play in the county championship.

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