The cause of Emi Hughes’ frustration Wednesday wasn’t the end result. Her North Hall volleyball team swept a tri-match against Lakeview Academy and Gainesville on Wednesday at Lakeview.

The problem was late-game lapses that resulted in a loss in the second game against the Lady Lions.

Hughes knows costly mistakes in Area 7-AAA matches against programs like top-10 ranked Flowery Branch, West Forsyth and Creekview aren’t going to yield the same results as a tri-match sweep.

"We’ve just got to learn how to finish those close games, especially against those teams that will be able to come back on us," Hughes said after defeating the Lady Lions 2-1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-21).

Against Lakeview, Kathryn Bell had 11 assists and three aces for North Hall, and Lauren Gregory added six kills. Evann Rowland had five kills and a blocked shot for the Lady Trojans (5-2-2).

After North Hall won the first game with ease against Lakeview (5-4), the Lady Lions managed to tie the second game late on four separate occasions before pulling out the victory. Jackie Burleson and A.C. Dover each had four assists for the Lady Lions, and Morgan Black added 4 1/2 blocked shots. Outside hitter Louisa Jacobs finished with four kills for Lakeview, and was effective with her play on the line, according to her coach Karen Towles.

"We played so well together as a team and that’s so exciting to see," Towles said. "It was a fantastic effort.

"I think losing that first game made us hungry."

North Hall pulled out the victory in the third game thanks to an 11-3 scoring run to start. Still, Lakeview battled back to narrow the score to as close to 24-20.

North Hall completed the sweep in the tri-match with a 2-0 (25-6, 25-20) win against Gainesville.

Bell had 10 assists for North Hall, Gregory added four kills, and Rowland finished with five kills and a blocked shot. The Lady Trojans play host to Buford and West Hall at 5 p.m. today.

For Gainesville (1-5), Tiara Hill had a pair of blocks and Katelyn Whelchel finished with four digs.
Lakeview recovered from its loss to North Hall to get a win against Gainesville 2-0 (25-5, 25-14).

In the first game, Lakeview shot out to a 17-2 lead in the first game.

Towles said her team’s balanced play and match aces from seven different players proved key. Jacobs finished the match with four kills, Dover had five assists and Megan Rochester added three kills for the Lady Lions.

Lakeview faces Flowery Branch and Jefferson at 5 p.m. today in a tri-match in Jefferson. Gainesville plays Eastside, Morgan County in a tri-match today in Madison.