Split Night in Cherokee: JV Jackets Roll, Varsity Swept by Lady Braves

CHEROKEE, N.C. — The Hayesville High School volleyball teams rolled into Cherokee on Tuesday, Sept. 1, for a pair of Smoky Mountain Conference showdowns with the Lady Braves.

Cherokee’s varsity program remains the team to beat in the conference and a likely deep state playoff contender. Hayesville was once a perennial championship threat in the same league before the Lady Braves climbed to the top. Since that shift, the Lady Jackets have had trouble solving Cherokee. That pattern held again Tuesday night.

The Lady Braves swept the varsity match 3-0. Cherokee took set one 25-14, set two 25-22 and set three 25-16.

The second set was the closest of the night. Hayesville stayed within striking distance and forced Cherokee to work for the win, but the Lady Braves closed it out and then pulled away in the third.

The bright spot for Hayesville came from the junior varsity team. The JV Lady Jackets swept Cherokee 3-0, giving the visitors a clean conference win on the road and a reminder that the program’s pipeline is still producing.

Next up for both squads is a long road trip to Rosman on Thursday, Sept. 3 to take on the Lady Tigers in another SMC showdown. High school action starts at 5 p.m. with the JV match.