TALLADEGA – The volleyball team at Talladega College started the season off on a positive note Thursday, defeating Judson College, 25-9, 25-14 and 25-23. The Lady Tornadoes (1-0) won their season opener in front of a good crowd in Callahan Gymnasium, opening with a commanding 25-9 win of the first match.
Judson College fought back in the final match, but TC rallied and put the game away, 25-23.
TC’s Jessica Futrell, a freshman from Dallas, recorded nine kills, one ace and three digs. Apiffany Richards, a junior from Baytown, Texas, had seven kills, three aces and five digs. Talladega native Dynasty Swain added five kills, one ace, four blocks and seven digs on the night. Broshun Moore of Dallas had three kills, five aces, one block and two digs. Mikevia Washington of Dallas had nine assists and two aces. LaQuasha King, a junior from Huntsville, added 12 assists and five aces in the game.
Lady Tornadoes head coach Rebecca Phipps said she was “excited” after seeing her squad play their first game.
“At least now I know what we need to work on as far as transitioning off the net when it’s a free ball and definitely executing,” she said. “Execution…not playing down to other teams, staying up all the time, that’s the biggest thing I want to work on. Just to keep hustling and talking and moving.”
Phipps said starting the season with a win should be a great confidence booster to the team.
“Because they have been doing nothing but working hard, it’s going to help tremendously,” she said. “Now they know…that work hasn’t been in vain. Now that they have that winning mentality, now all they’ve got to do is just get on the floor and do that every time.
“All of them impressed me because when one of them was going down, the others would pick up and take their spot. The only thing that hurt us was when they got relaxed, when they started winning and then they started getting relaxed.
“I think we did pretty good it being our first game.”
Judson falls to 1-1 on the season and will face Pensacola Christian on Saturday. Talladega College moves to 1-0 on the season and will host Miles College on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
