Facing off in their second game of the season Thursday and their conference opener, the Jefferson Davis Community College Lady Warhawks fell to 0-2 overall this season and to 0-1 in conference play with a 3-0 loss to the Wallace State-Hanceville Lady Lions.
JDCC lost set one 25-12, set two 25-12 and set three 25-11.
“Hanceville was ranked No. 18 in the country and has won the region four straight years,” first-year head coach Allen Gainer said. “They are strong and well coached, and we just didn’t bring the competitive fire that I expected our girls to have. We are so young and learning to compete at the highest level is a skill that takes time and experience. Just got to hang in and keep fighting, and I know they are going to. They have such strong work ethic and character that I know they will keep getting better all season and end up surprising some people.”
In set one, Hanceville led JDCC early before JDCC cut the lead to 15-11. After cutting the lead to 19-12, Hanceville reeled off six straight points to get the win by 13.
Lauren Pierce, Brittney Forsythe and Christina Gohagan all had one service point each.
In set two, Hanceville once again built an early lead. JDCC cut the lead to 10-7. The three-point deficit would be as close as JDCC would get as Hanceville took a 2-0 lead with a 13-point win.
Liz McCrary and Natalie Jernigan had one service point each while Shunetta Adams had three.
In set three, Hanceville built a 6-0 lead to start the game and led 8-1 before JDCC cut the lead to 8-6. From there, Hanceville blew the game open and went on to win by 14 points.
Pierce led with four service points and McCrary had one.
Wallace State volleyball teams have earned conference/district championships 17 times, earning them 13 appearances at the National Tournament.
The Lions have won four consecutive Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 tournament championship and five straight ACCC regular-season championships.
Hanceville coach Randy Daniel, the 2011 ACCC Coach of the Year, has established Wallace State volleyball as a perennial state and national power, compiling a 228-41 career record in six seasons with the program.
JDCC was scheduled to play another conference game Friday night at Faulkner State and will be back in action Wednesday against Wallace State-Selma at 5 p.m. in Selma.