Warriors Outlast 4A #1 Montgomery Academy at Home

The Thompson Warriors downed Montgomery Academy for the second straight year at home Tuesday, Sept 1. The Eagles were ranked first in 3A in 2019 and are ranked in the top spot again even after a move to 4A. They proved a worthy opponent again pushing the Warriors in several sets, but the home team prevailed in four sets 25-18, 25-23, 17-25, 25-16.

Thompson (4-1) rushed out to a 5-0 lead as the Eagles struggled early to establish any rhythm. Down 12-6, the Eagles went on a 9-4 run to draw within one. Judy Green called a timeout and adjusted her team and the Warriors came out firing. Cricket Canady had a big first set with five kills and added another as the Warriors closed the set on a 9-3 run.

“What’s really changed for us is we have the confidence to take the bigger swings in the more risky situations,” said Green. “That’s training, believing in the training and leaning on your training. That’s one of the things we talk a lot about as a team is to trust the process. Today they were able to see what could happen if they have that trust.”

Montgomery Academy dug in even harder in the second set which featured five lead changes and 12 ties. No one led by more than three until Briana Wilson’s kill fell just inside the line gave the Warriors a 21-17 lead, but the Eagles wouldn’t go away. They took six of the next seven points to retake the lead 23-22, but Baylee Souther tied the set for the final time before Thompson won the set with three straight.

“I thought we got a great response from Montgomery Academy. I was proud of the maturity we showed as a team to come back and the way we came back in the fourth set, we meant business,” said Green. “It was a very mature response by our team.”

Montgomery Academy tied the fourth set at 13 a piece, but from there the Warriors took control. They outdid their first set finish with a 12-3 run to clinch the victory off a strong finish by Sophie Bearden who made her mark throughout the match.

Jada White led Thompson with 12 kills and an ace on the night while Bri Wilson added nine kills and two aces.

The Warriors will travel to Grissom Thursday, Sept 3 for their next match.