CODY LEIST

PDT Sports Writer

JACKSON — Getting out to a fast start was what Darcee Claxon was hoping her top-seeded South Webster volleyball team would get in its Division IV Southeast District Championship match Saturday against No. 2 Beaver Eastern.

Instead, the Eagles scored the first seven points of the contest off the serve of Chandler Brown and never looked back as they continued their perfect season with a three-set sweep of the Jeeps Saturday. Eastern has yet to drop a set this season.

“It’s so strange because last year we were poised and ready,” Claxon said. “Then our middle (hitter) Mariah (Sullivan) went down and we lost her but we still played great against them.”

She was referencing last year’s five-set classic. The Eagles survived by winning the deciding set 15-13.

This year, it was a different story.

“Tonight you don’t take anything away from Eastern because (coach) Janet (Day) always has a fundamentally-sound team,” Claxon said. “They’re disciplined to the nth degree and we just could never put anything together.”

The best shot for South Webster (19-6) to break Eastern’s streak came in the third set. The Jeeps came back from an 11-6 deficit to tie the match at 15-15. But the Eagles (25-0) regrouped and won 10 out of the next 13 points to win the match.

“We’re just a stronger team this year,” Day said. “We’ve got all kinds of hitters, we’re loaded with hitters this year. We don’t depend on one or two people, we just have all across the net hitting.”

Haylee Murphy had 15 assists and Mariah Sullivan recorded two aces in their final matches for South Webster. Along with Cassie Edwards and Katie Hanes, Claxon feels this senior class is like a part of her family.

Eastern moves on to next week’s regional tournament, where Newark Catholic awaits. Miranda Clark led the Eagles with 11 kills, Brown had 13 digs and Brittney Mounts’ 31 assists were also a team high.

Cody Leist can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 242, or cleist@heartlandpublications.com.

Eastern 25 25 25

South Webster 10 15 18