Valiant Effort Comes Up Short for Lady Bulldogs

MURPHY, N.C. — Hayesville High School's varsity volleyball team defeated Murphy High School 3-0 in a highly-contested match in the Dog House on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The final score didn't exactly tell the full story of this Smoky Mountain Conference showdown.

The Lady Jackets (12-2, 5-1 conference) showcased their grit, winning the sets 26-24, 25-22, and 25-21. The victory solidifies their strong standing, ranked 133rd in North Carolina and 11th in their class, with an 85.7% overall win percentage and an 83.3% conference win rate.

Murphy (5-5, 1-5 conference), ranked 369th in the state and 34th in their class, put up a tough fight against the formidable Hayesville squad. Despite a competitive effort, the Bulldogs fell short, dropping to a 50% overall win percentage and a 16.7% conference win rate.

Hayesville's consistent performance was evident in their season stats, boasting 36 set wins against just 7 losses. Murphy, with 18 set wins and 17 losses, faced their third home loss of the season.

Next up for Hayesville is a home match against Swain County Thursday, Sept. 18 while the Lady Bulldogs head to Cherokee to take on the conference-leading Lady Braves.