Zhanelle Geathers Powers Lindale Lady Eagles to Sweep of Chapel Hill

LINDALE -- At the beginning of the season, Lindale head volleyball coach Meghan Koonce wasn't sure if junior middle blocker Zhanelle Geathers would be a member of the Lady Eagles program.

The powerful 6-3 Geathers was contemplating a move, but fortunately for Lindale she decided to stay and rejoin the program.

Geathers had a team-high nine kills in Lindale's 25-16, 25-11, 25-16 sweep of Chapel Hill on Tuesday night.

"It's just been a question if she was going to stay and she decided to stay," Koonce said. "I just haven't been letting her play a lot because I wasn't sure if she was staying, for the dynamics of the team I guess."

Seven of Geathers' nine kills came in Lindale's dominant second set.

"She helps a lot because she's a big threat hitting-wise and blocking-wise," Koonce said. "She's come together pretty well this year and she's going to help throughout the season."

Senior Savannah Cantrell and junior Makenna Allen each provided seven kills on the night to help power Lindale (7-1) at the net. Junior setter Sydney Tiiman assisted on 20 points.

Geathers' three kills pushed the Lady Eagles to an 8-2 lead in the second set, and later registered three consecutive kills to put Lindale up 16-8.

"The whole team seems to be playing well together, with (Geathers) or my other middle (Travicia Acy)," Koonce said. "Anybody I put in there it seems like they're playing pretty well right now, so I think we've got some options this year."

Chapel Hill (7-8) was led by junior Shay Ross' seven kills. Sophomore Schuyler Wages added eight assists, while junior Danielle Ford picked up seven.

"Of course we didn't play as well as I would have liked us to have played," Chapel Hill coach Linda Godwin said. "I thought during the third (match) we learned some things and we started making some adjustments. When you play a good team like that you learn a lot and you take what we didn't do well ... I've made notes on things we've got to work on; blocking is one of them.

"We'll be better (because of) this match."

Chapel Hill and Lindale each participate in the Tyler tournament this weekend.