By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
The explanation was not a complex one, just a frustrating one for T.R. Miller Lady Tigers volleyball coach Sharon Peacock.
The Lady Tigers suffered their first loss at home this season and their sixth loss in their last eight games overall Monday when they fell to the Clarke County Lady Bulldogs 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15.
One of the few bright spots for T.R. Miller was senior middle hitter Shandreka Foster, who had 11 kills, a block and two tipped balls for points.
The Lady Tigers (4-6) wiped out two four-point deficits and took a 15-13 lead on a three-point string by Morgan Hubbard in the opener. They later took a 19-17 edge after a couple of points by Foster.
Clarke County wiped out the latter margin when a defensive point and four service points put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 22-19. It was a lead they did not surrender.
Clarke County had an 18-17 lead in set two, but a missed serve, four points by Morgan Hubbard and a kill by Foster put T.R. Miller up 22-17. The Lady Tigers closed out the set with a defensive point, a service point by Leslie Nalty and a missed serve by the visitors.
Clarke County, which overcame a dozen missed serves, dominated most of the final two sets. The Lady Bulldogs raced out to a 17-7 lead in the pivotal third set.
T.R. Miller made a bit of a run when four points by Morgan Hubbard, a pair by Rachel Bostic and two kills from Foster helped narrow the gap to just 22-18.
The Lady Bulldogs regained the momentum and preserved their set win with a defensive point, an ace and a defensive kill.
T.R. Miller, which missed 13 serves, led only in the opening moments of set four when a pair of defensive points and single offensive points by Nalty and Foster put the Lady Tigers up 4-1. A missed serve began a nine-point overall string that put the Lady Bulldogs up 10-4. That lead later went to 19-10 and hit double digits on the game's last play.
T.R. Miller went 1-3 in its pool division at Saturday's Andalusia Tournament.
The lone win for the Lady Tigers came in their opening match when they knocked off Opp 25-8, 25-10.
Michal Hubbard led T.R. Miller in the first set with five points, while Courtney Scott added four. Shandreka Foster and Rachel Bostic both tallied nine points in set two.
The Lady Tigers fell to Kinston 25-5, 25-12 in their second match.
The most exciting match for T.R. Miller was its third contest where it dropped a tight 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 decision.
Foster had a team best six points in the first set, while Michal Hubbard notched eight in set two and Bostic had five.
Morgan Hubbard contributed a team best six points in the finale, while Bostic had five.
T.R. Miller's final contest was a 25-18, 25-10 loss to Enterprise.
Scott led the Lady Tigers with five points in set one, while Morgan Hubbard contributed four in the second set.
The Lady Tigers head to Monroe County Thursday. Play starts with the junior varsity match at 4:30 p.m.