By Stephen Dawkins

As is usually the case when Chilton County’s two traditional volleyball powers meet, Isabella and Jemison on Tuesday each put forth one of their best efforts of the year.

The Mustangs (25-8) won for the second time this season, 3-1 (25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 25-19).

“That was probably the best effort we’ve had all season,” Isabella coach Glen Graham said. “I thought both teams fought all night long. There’s a lot of pride in these two programs.”

The numbers backed up Graham’s assessment.

IHS seniors Amber Wyatt (25 kills) and Jessica Maciel (35 assists) each posted career highs.

The visitors rode that combination—Maciel setting up Wyatt for a thundering kill—to relatively easy wins in the first two sets.

Jemison (21-9) wasn’t about to go quietly, though. The Panthers fought back to win Set 3, but in the end there was too much Isabella, the ninth-ranked team in Class 1A.

Allison Mims recorded 11 digs for IHS, and Kaylynn Culp contributed defensively with nine digs.

Culp also had three aces, and Wyatt also had eight blocks.

Emily Smithey led Jemison’s effort to control Wyatt with 12 digs. Tanya Liveoak had 10 digs, and Morgan Posey had eight.

Haley Smitherman posted four digs to go along with five kills.

Kasi Wells was good for 11 assists, six digs and four kills. Hallie Amos had five digs and four kills, and Kortney Robinson posted seven blocks and four kills.

Isabella’s junior varsity won, 2-1 (19-25, 25-23, 15-10); and the Mustangs middle school team was also victorious, 2-1 (12-25, 25-18, 15-11).