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Lady Wildcats headed to postseason
By Jeremy Styron News Editor
After only its second regular season, the Rabun County Lady Wildcats volleyball team will see postseason action. Seeded third in the Region 8A/AA north area, Rabun edged Tallulah Falls School for the spot.
Rabun (8-9 overall and 3-5 in region play) is set to open double-elimination competition today at North Oconee High School.
If the Lady 'Cats pick up two wins in the three scheduled matches, they will advance to state competition and play in the final four round of the region tournament Saturday.
"It's an accomplishment," head coach Rick Rawlins said. "We finished ahead of, really, four teams in the area, and some of those teams have been in business a long time."
Senior Michaela Allen, who played during the team's inaugural season last year, said "it's really exciting" that Rabun is headed for postseason play.
"It's something we didn't expect going into the first year," she said.
Jefferson High School, which finished with an 8-0 record, was seeded first in the tournament, while Lakeview Academy at 6-2 was second. East Jackson High School and Tallulah Falls competed Tuesday for the fourth and final spot.
Allen said the team still had some work to do in being more audible in calling balls in the air during the tourney.
"I think the main thing is we need to work as a team" in making sure the players know who will handle each volley, she said.
The Lady 'Cats were also working on "just encouraging each other" on the court, junior Shay Rasmussen added. She said the team needed to improve on "serving and getting over little mistakes."
"Especially me," Allen chimed in. "I get really frustrated" during low points in the games.
Rasmussen said the team's beefed up skill level since the beginning of the year was hard to describe.
It has been, "like, tremendous," she said. "I don't even know how to put it, but a lot."
Rabun will likely face some testy teams in the tournament, and Allen said most would likely have a height advantage on the Lady 'Cats.
"They definitely have height on us, but what we've noticed is the power behind their serves, the power behind their hitting," she said.
Rawlins said matter-of-factly that Rabun would win at least one game of the tournament and was hoping to pull away with two wins to advance.
"But it's going to be tough because we'll be playing some of the top teams in the state," he added.
Rabun's first game will be at 4 p.m. against North Oconee, and a second-round match will follow at 5:30 p.m. If the team wins one of those matches, Rabun will play at 7 p.m. at nearby Athens Academy.
If the Lady 'Cats advance to Saturday's round of matches in the region, they will compete at the state level, which opens next week.
Rawlins said the players were filled with anticipation leading up to the postseason.
"They're pumped up; they're feeling good," Rawlins said. "(We) just have to get them talking to each other."
Softball done
The Rabun County Lady Wildcats softball team wrapped up the season with a pair of Region 8AA losses Saturday at Fannin County and Oct. 1. at Union County.
The team's final scheduled game Monday at Oglethorpe was canceled.
Rabun missed the playoffs this year and finished with a 4-15 overall record, 0-7 in the region.
Rabun (8-9 overall and 3-5 in region play) is set to open double-elimination competition today at North Oconee High School.
If the Lady 'Cats pick up two wins in the three scheduled matches, they will advance to state competition and play in the final four round of the region tournament Saturday.
"It's an accomplishment," head coach Rick Rawlins said. "We finished ahead of, really, four teams in the area, and some of those teams have been in business a long time."
Senior Michaela Allen, who played during the team's inaugural season last year, said "it's really exciting" that Rabun is headed for postseason play.
"It's something we didn't expect going into the first year," she said.
Jefferson High School, which finished with an 8-0 record, was seeded first in the tournament, while Lakeview Academy at 6-2 was second. East Jackson High School and Tallulah Falls competed Tuesday for the fourth and final spot.
Allen said the team still had some work to do in being more audible in calling balls in the air during the tourney.
"I think the main thing is we need to work as a team" in making sure the players know who will handle each volley, she said.
The Lady 'Cats were also working on "just encouraging each other" on the court, junior Shay Rasmussen added. She said the team needed to improve on "serving and getting over little mistakes."
"Especially me," Allen chimed in. "I get really frustrated" during low points in the games.
Rasmussen said the team's beefed up skill level since the beginning of the year was hard to describe.
It has been, "like, tremendous," she said. "I don't even know how to put it, but a lot."
Rabun will likely face some testy teams in the tournament, and Allen said most would likely have a height advantage on the Lady 'Cats.
"They definitely have height on us, but what we've noticed is the power behind their serves, the power behind their hitting," she said.
Rawlins said matter-of-factly that Rabun would win at least one game of the tournament and was hoping to pull away with two wins to advance.
"But it's going to be tough because we'll be playing some of the top teams in the state," he added.
Rabun's first game will be at 4 p.m. against North Oconee, and a second-round match will follow at 5:30 p.m. If the team wins one of those matches, Rabun will play at 7 p.m. at nearby Athens Academy.
If the Lady 'Cats advance to Saturday's round of matches in the region, they will compete at the state level, which opens next week.
Rawlins said the players were filled with anticipation leading up to the postseason.
"They're pumped up; they're feeling good," Rawlins said. "(We) just have to get them talking to each other."
Softball done
The Rabun County Lady Wildcats softball team wrapped up the season with a pair of Region 8AA losses Saturday at Fannin County and Oct. 1. at Union County.
The team's final scheduled game Monday at Oglethorpe was canceled.
Rabun missed the playoffs this year and finished with a 4-15 overall record, 0-7 in the region.
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