Andrews Can't Hold Off Hayesville Rally

ANDREWS, N.C. — The Andrews Lady Wildcats came out strong Tuesday night in their final regular-season match, but couldn’t hold off conference contender Hayesville, falling 3–1 in a Smoky Mountain Conference volleyball match at home.

Andrews took the first set 25–20 behind sharp serving and strong net play, but Hayesville rallied to win the next three sets 25–23, 25–15 and 25–13. The loss dropped the Lady Wildcats to 10–11 overall and 4–8 in conference play.

The defeat came in the final week of the regular season, as Andrews tried to build momentum heading toward the postseason. Despite a competitive start, the Lady Wildcats struggled to match Hayesville’s consistency down the stretch.

Hayesville improved to 22–3 overall and 9–2 in league play, maintaining one of the top records in the Smoky Mountain Conference. The Lady Wildcats now watch and wait as the rest of the conference finishes up their regular season. Results from those matches could play a role in Andrews' seeding for the SMC tournament which will be held in Hayesville.