Savannah Voelzke Dominates in No. 4 Spring Hill’s Sweep at Henderson

HENDERSON -- Savannah Voelzke did whatever she wanted Tuesday night, and Rachel Riestenberg was there to set her up every time she did.

The Spring Hill duo powered the No. 4 Lady Panthers to a 25-13, 25-23, 27-25 sweep of Henderson at Lion Gymnasium to keep Spring Hill (27-2, 4-0) unbeaten in District 16-3A volleyball action.

Voelzke, a 6-foot-1 senior committed to Arkansas, slammed 29 kills and had one block, seven digs, and one ace. Riestenberg had 35 assists, all but six of which went to Voelzke, who finished sets in the middle, on the outside, and from the back row as she peppered the floor on the other side of the net with a barrage of kills.

"It was just working for us. Sometimes we have off games, but it was just on tonight," Voelzke said. "Everything was just going good. Her sets were perfect and our timing was good."

Riestenberg agreed.

"I can always rely on her to put it down," Riestenberg said. "I just try to give her the best that I can because I know it'll be a kill."

Spring Hill's Jacey Fleet added four kills, seven digs, and one ace, while Ann Hollas had five kills and one block. Dani Decherd had seven digs.

Spring Hill owned Game 1, erasing a 3-1 deficit with a 14-1 run fueled by four kills and a block from Voelzke to take command. Aly Curtis had an ace in the 13-1 spurt.

But Games 2 and 3 were much closer. Voelzke's three kills powered Spring Hill to a 5-1 run at the end of Game 2 to come back from a 22-20 deficit. Fleet ended the set on a kill off a Voelzke assist.

Henderson (2-2 in 16-3A) again had Spring Hill on the ropes in Game 3, leading 23-21 after a Karley Free kill, but Fleet capped a 3-0 run that helped keep the set alive. A Voelzke kill gave Spring Hill a 26-25 advantage before the Lady Panthers finished off the match, 27-25.

Fleet said the close calls in Games 2 and 3 will benefit Spring Hill later in the season.

"It definitely helps with composure and that's the biggest thing we're working on right now," Fleet said.

Codie Whitehead led Henderson with eight kills and one ace, while Tiarra Davis had seven kills and one block.  Free added two kills, one block, and 14 assists. Katy Phipps had three kills and one ace.

Spring Hill visits Kilgore at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Henderson plays at Chapel Hill.