Ashley Hall & Palmetto Christian Tune Up For SCISA Volleyball Playoffs Starting Today In Mrytle Beach With Competitive Match Won By PCA On Wednesday

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Charleston — As the annual; SCISA volleyball playoffs begin today (Oct. 18-19) at the John T. Rhodes Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, the HSSR covered a very competitive volleyball game between Palmetto Christian and Ashley Hall hosted by the Panthers on Wednesday.

Led by 6-1 PCA versatile senior Cokey Suddeth, the Eagles defeated Asheley Hall 3-1 but all four matches were highly competitive and very close.

Ashley Hall won the first match 25-20. PCA came back and won the next three matches (25-13, 25-17, and 28-26).

Shelly Kaiser is in her fourth season as the head volleyball coach at PCA, and after the matches she spoke with the HSSR about her team. “Ashley Hall has a very good defensive team and they kept the pressure on us throughout the matches,” said Coach Kaiser. “We were having to be more creative and we had to mix things up.

“I would say this is one of our best teams in my four years with the team,” said Coach Kaiser. “We moved up to SCISA 4-A from 3-A this season. We made it to the semi-finals last year and we are hoping to do even better this season. We finished the region tied with Porter-Gaud at 8-1 each, and I am not sure how the tie breaker works at this point.”

Coach Kaiser called Cokey Suddeth “the whole package” both as a basketball player and volleyball player. “Cokey could go D-1 in either sport, and she is super smart academically, and she could get also get a full academic ride also,” said Coach Kaiser. “She is a six-year starter in both sports and she has a work ethic and very good ball skills to go along with it.”   

Cokey Suddeth had 22 kills, 13 digs, five blocks, with a service receive rating of 2.32, over the four matches. Her teammate, 5-9 freshman middle hitter Coco Kucaba contributed 13 kills, 10 digs, and three aces in the win. Sophomore middle hitter Adelaide Suddeth (5-10) contributed 18 digs and three aces while junior Libero Chole Guyan a 2.19 serve receive rating and she was 100 per cent on her serves.

Junior PCA outside hitter junior Reed Jones (5-9) was also 100 per cent on her serving percentage and setter Banks Jenkins had 9 digs and 51 assists during the four matches. Other PCA players include senior DS Hannah Delaney, senior RS Bria Olson, junior MH-OH Saylor Sorensen, junior RS-OH Alyssa Carper along with senior OH Ava Bowen.

Prior to the matches, Ashley Hall honored head volleyball coach Franny Slay for her 40 years of service to the school she graduated from before enjoying an outstanding volleyball career at The College of Charleston. Over this span Cooch Slay has led the Ashley Hall program to 12 state championships.

This season the panthers had a 5-5 region record going into the play-offs.

Coach Slay told the HSSR after the match with PCA, “It was a great feeling to be recognized before the game, and it was very thoughtful of our school administration, and it meant a lot to me,” said Coach Slay. “No, I am not retiring.

“We have a good blend of seniors and younger players this season, and I felt like this match was just what we needed to get ready for the playoffs at Myrtle Beach this weekend,” said Coach Slay. “We were very competitive and I felt like our defense kept things competitive. I feel like any number of them could come out of this weekend ready to compete for a state title next week, and that includes my team.”

Coach Slay literally starting coaching volleyball at Ashley Hall, the day after she graduated from the College of Charleston in 1980. ”It was just meant for me to be here,” said Coach Slay.

The Panthers are led by 5-9 junior setter Charlotte Strickland  who is committed to Tulane. “Charlotte started here in the first grade and she became a starter on the varsity volleyball team in the 8^th grade,” said Coach Slay. “She puts in the time in the off-season and plays for an elite club team. She is a very dedicated player.”   

During the matches Ashley Hall had seven total blocks, centered around the play of Strickland, senior middle hitter Spencer Edgerton and senior middle hitter Ellen Lesemann.

“Spencer has grown as a player, having worked really hard, and I am very proud of her steady improvement,” said Coach Slay. “She has been solid.”  

“We are going to work really hard in practice on Thursday before getting up early to go to Myrtle Beach and I think our first game is 11 am but I do not know the opponent right now,” said Coach Slay. “It is a double elimination tournament and I am excited for our potential in this tournament. I feel like our competitive play today will help prepared us for the tournament and so many of the teams are even in terms of talent.” 

Sophomore outside hitter Liza Hood led the Panthers in kills as the team combined for 36 kills against PCA. Ashley Hall had 41 digs, led by senior defensive specialist Iris Stiegman, and Strickland.

Another AH starter includes senior DS Parker Gragg who has come back from a neck injury earlier in the season to help the team on defense. Other contributors include junior OH Maclane Applegate, along with sophomore DS Amelia Finnegan.

Other hard-working members of the AH team include junior DS Diana Street, sophomore S Minka Tang, soph RS Samantha Miller, senior OH Gates McCants, senior OH Faye Bailey, 7^th grader Avery Ryan, soph S Molly Mettler, along with senior MH Sadie Cowan.

Coach Slay is assisted by Donya Amer. Coach Kaiser is assisted by Izzie Bell and Tracy Carper.