MONTGOMERY — After a comeback effort in the semifinal that put them in the title game, the Morgan Academy Lady Senators couldn’t get it going, as they lost 3-0 (17-25, 14-25, 24-26) to the Macon East Lady Knights on Saturday in the AISA Class 2A Finals.

Jennifer Moore, head volleyball coach of Morgan Academy, said her team has no reason to hang their heads down.

“We beat Macon East once this season, but the ball just didn’t fall our way today,” Moore said, “but one game can’t determine the outcome of our season and what we take away from here.”

And after a run that saw them enter Faulkner University’s Tine W. Davis Gymnasium as a No. 1 seed, Moore said it’s been amazing watching this Lady Senators’ group grow during a magnificent season.

“These girls have everything to be proud of. They had a season record of 41-7, they played very well throughout the season and I think they ended ranked No. 3 in the state in the last poll, and now they can say they finished up the season No. 2,” Moore said. “It was a young group starting out with, not a whole lot of experience because they played under the last group, but I think they learned from that and learned from each other throughout the season and learned how to play with each other. They came so far this season, played so well together that I think they have everything to be proud for.”

The Lady Senators found themselves in a two-set deficit entering the third set, and played with a sense of urgency, fighting to take a 10-6 lead in the set.

But Macon’s tournament most valuable player Blue Coleman got a kill and Savannah Henderson had a service ace that helped the Lady Knights tie the set at 11-11.

The Lady Knights pushed ahead to a 16-15 lead, until back-to-back blocks by Morgan’s Anna Kate Mock-Jordan and a kill by senior Megan Leigh Siddens put the Lady Senators ahead 17-16.

The Lady Senators pushed their lead to 23-19 with another block by Mock-Jordan and a pair of kills from Siddens and appeared to have the set in hand, but Coleman came up big for the Lady Knights with a kill, and a service error by Morgan helped Macon make the score 24-24. The Lady Senators hit the ball out of bounds on back-to-back plays, as Macon East secured the state title.

Mock-Jordan and senior Lauren Yeldell were both named to the all-tournament team for Morgan.

 

Lady Senators comeback against Lee Scott

Before advancing to the finals at Faulkner University, the Lady Senators had to come from behind to defeat the Lee Scott Academy Warriors 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-18, 15-7) earlier on Saturday.

Trailing 2-1, Morgan fought back to win the fourth set that included a pair of service aces by senior Laigon Godwin and a block by Ashley Friday.

Morgan trailed 3-0 in the fifth and final set before fighting back to take the lead and win the set, powered by a pair of service aces by senior Lindsey Yeldell.

Moore praised her five seniors and the team’s will to win in the comeback.