Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets Defeat Swain in Four Sets

From left: Aaliyah Jackson, Eva Jones and Charlotte Pullum have been instrumental in Hayesville's early-season success.

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — The Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Smoky Mountain Conference opponent Swain County on Tuesday, Aug. 25 winning the match with 25-17, 23-25, 25-16, 25-21 set scores.

It was Hayesville’s first conference match of the season and the team’s first competition in more than a week. The Lady Jackets’ schedule has been disrupted by ongoing air conditioning replacement work at their home gymnasium, the Daryl K. McClure Gymnasium.

Hayesville opened strongly, taking the first set 25-17. Swain responded by claiming a tightly contested second set 25-23. The Lady Jackets then regained control, dominating the third set 25-16 before closing out the match 25-21 in the fourth.

Savannah Burch directed the Hayesville offense from the setter position while also contributing significantly on defense. Maddie Farmer and Aaliyah Jackson provided consistent attacking pressure, and Eva Jones was especially effective on the right side. Jasmine Brooks made an impact at the net with her blocking and all-around play.

Reese Segars contributed defensively and finished the match in memorable fashion, delivering an ace on match point. Charlotte Pullum provided steady back-row play, while Micalynn McClure and Lucy Trout added valuable contributions throughout the contest.

After dropping the second set, Hayesville improved its communication, regained serving pressure and responded with two strong sets to secure the win. The victory highlighted the team’s resilience and ability to make adjustments when the match tightened.

Hayesville next faces another road match against SMC powerhouse Cherokee at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27.