Lady Indians fight to the end, close season as State Runner-Up

The Lady Indians' amazing run concluded in a GIAA State Championship match Saturday in Rome at Shorter University. #4-ranked TFS fought to the final point in a 3-1 final against #3 St. Anne Pacelli. 

• Set 1: 25-15
• Set 2: 17-25
• Set 3: 17-25
• Set 4: 22-25

From the opening set, Tallulah Falls had momentum. Rebecca Heyl had a quick kill, and Corinne Swinton added two aces with Lily Smith adding a kill for a 7-2 lead. Margalida Amengual Sanchez dumped in a kill moments later to force a timeout by St. Anne Pacelli.

Heyl added three more kills and an ace as TFS pulled ahead 18-9. Sofia Livianos had three crushing spikes down the line, Smith added another big one, and Shelby Whisnant recorded an ace to clinch the set win at 25-15.

In the second set, the Lady Indians were forced to call a timeout after getting down 10-5, despite a nice ace from Sanchez and blocks by Heyl and Swinton. The remainder of the set went mostly in favor of St. Anne Pacelli, though Whisnant added back-to-back aces and TFS pulled back within six at one point. It was 17-25 to even the match at a set apiece.

Both sides traded blows early in the third set, with Swinton, Livianos, and Heyl notching kills and Sanchez a clutch ace. Whisnant added back-to-back aces and Swinton a kill about midway through as the teams were tied at 12.

The Lady Indians burned a timeout after seeing Pacelli go ahead 15-12. They would not relinquish the lead, as they'd go on to take the set 25-17 to put TFS at the brink.

Swinton and Heyl kicked off the fourth set with consecutive kills to push Tallulah out to a 3-0 start. Livianos played with passion and ignited the crowd with several heavy kills.

Swinton added some spikes as did Smith, as Pacelli regrouped with a timeout after a 15-9 TFS lead. The tides turned as St. Anne Pacelli rallied to get within 16-15, making TFS spend a timeout as well.

Down to a 23-16 deficit, the Lady Indians dug deep. Heyl smashed a couple kills and Sanchez dropped in an ace to make it a 22-23 score.

St. Anne grabbed the final three points to win the championship in the 3-1 final. The Lady Indians finish as State Runner-Up, going 27-9 on the season. Heyl led with 13 kills, and Livianos had 12. Whisnant led with five aces, while Sanchez added three.

Kills

• Heyl - 13
• Livianos - 12
• Swinton - 7
• Smith - 4
• Sanchez - 2

Aces

• Whisnant - 5
• Sanchez - 3
• Swinton - 2
• Smith - 2
• Heyl - 1

Blocks 

• Swinton - 1
• Heyl - 1