Donoho does it again

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: October 18, 2016

Lady Falcons sweep Sacred Heart to claim 34th area title in 39 years, Gaines scores 1,000th career kill

Madison Gaines gets way up to deliver a big hit that was her 1,000th career kill in Donoho’s area championship match against Sacred Heart. On the cover, the Lady Falcons celebrate after the winning point falls. (All photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

By Brant Locklier
For East Alabama Sports Today

With the sounds of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” blaring over the loudspeakers, the Donoho Lady Falcons proved they were ready to climb another mountain Monday night with another Class 1A Area 10 championship.

The Lady Falcons quickly took care of business with Jacksonville Christian in the semifinals 3-0 and then defeated Sacred Heart 25-11, 25-18 and 25-22 to win their 34th area title in 39 years. They have won nine state championships and been runner-ups 10 times.

The quest for another title begins Thursday in Huntsville when they play Area 14 runner-up Cedar Bluff in their North Regional opener at 9 a.m. Sacred Heart plays Area 14 winner Spring Garden at 9.

Madison Gaines slammed her 1000th career kill late in the second set of Donoho’s victory over Sacred Heart, which set off a celebration in the stands. The third set proved to be a tough one for a tired Sacred Heart team that had to play back-to-back matched with just eight players; the Lady Lions had a tough two-hour match in a 25-20, 22-25, 24-26, 25-19 semifinals victory over Faith Christian.

There were 16 ties, including 11 in a row from points 10 through 21 in the third set. Haley Shaw and Donoho’s Gaines were trading kills in a spectacular display of volleyball.

“It is always good to get another area title,” said Donoho coach Janice Slay, who returned to the team after a brief retirement in the offseason. ”I was really proud of our kids tonight and proud of the season we have had. It has had its ups and downs, as they all do, I suppose, but we are pulling it all together when we need it.”

Gaines had 17 kills, 14 digs and two aces in the championship win over the Lady Cardinals. Peyton Suco had eight kills and 14 digs. Ryleigh Warren had 14 digs, Katie Brown 32 assists and Maren Christian three aces.

Haley Shaw had 14 digs, nine kills and one ace for Sacred Heart. Jumoke Sanusi had 13 digs, two kills and three aces. Jayla Woods had nine digs, three aces and eight assists. Sophia Allen had six assists.

“I thought our kids played really well tonight,” said Sacred Heart head coach Peyton Van Ekris. “I thought we played the hardest and with the most heart that we have played with all season. They showed a lot of heart the way they fought back against Donoho and being totally exhausted. It is exciting to go to Huntsville.”

Peyton Suco (12) had eight kills in Donoho’s area tournament title win over Sacred Heart.

Donoho 3, JCA 0

JCA’s Thunder had one of the most daunting tasks in the Class A playoffs as it had to open the tournament facing a state championship contender in Donoho. The Lady Falcons played like the state runner-ups from a year ago as they swept JCA 25-9, 25-8, 25-19.

Donoho jumped out to big leads in all three sets. Gaines had 11 kills and Christian had eight. Warren had 13 digs and Brown had nine. Brown also had 27 assists and three aces. Warren had five aces.

Haley Moses had three kills, two blocks and two aces to lead JCA. Macy Barnwell added three kills and two blocks.

Jumoke Sanusi (22) leads the celebration after Sacred Heart outlasted Faith Christian to earn a spot in the Class 1A regionals.

Sacred Heart 3, Faith Christian 1

Early leads propelled Sacred Heart to a hard-fought 25-20, 22-25, 24-26, 25-19 victory that lasted almost two hours and ended when the Lady Cardinals rallied from a 21-18 deficit in the deciding set.

Jayla Woods’ excellent serving helped the Cardinals jump out to 6-0, 5-1 and 8-3 leads in three of the sets. The sets featured long points with dazzling displays of skills from both teams.

Trailing one set to none, Faith coach Bradley Dawson urged his girls to swing hard at the ball and they began pounding away and took the second set. The Lady Cardinals answered back with some pounding away of their own and the match was on in the last two sets.

Unfortunately only one team could move on to the next round and Sacred Heart won the fourth set after pulling out to an 8-3 lead. Faith cut its deficit to three, but could not get any closer.

Moore had 16 digs and 18 assists. Sanusi had 21 digs and five kills. Shaw had 27 digs and 12 assists. Jacque Beyerle contributed 12 digs and three kills to the Sacred Heart attack.

Cornelia Simpson had 15 kills, nine digs and three assists to pace Faith. Nicole Frechette had eight kills, four assists and two aces. Abby Kazanjian had 16 digs for the Lady Lions. Abby Emerson had seven digs and four kills.

All-Tournament Team

Haley Moses (JCA), Cornelia Simpson (Faith Christian), Abby Emerson (Faith Christian), Jumoke Sanusi (Sacred Heart), Haley Shaw (Sacred Heart), Peyton Succo (Donoho), Madison Gaines (Donoho), Katie Brown (Donoho).