Cornerstone tops SMCA on senior night

Published 8:09 pm Thursday, October 14, 2010

Cornerstone Christian School junior Jana Armstrong prepares to serve the ball Oct. 14 in the Chargers' sweep of South Montgomery County Academy. (Reporter Photo/Wesley Hallman)

By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

COLUMBIANA — Cornerstone Christian School volleyball coach Cyndi Sims knew the Chargers had the pieces in place for a successful 2010 season with a group of four seniors returning with plenty of varsity experience.

Sims was correct in her assessment. She watched her senior class, which includes Kailey Goodwin, Paige Paszak, Stephanie Dorough and Olivia Perry, sweep visiting South Montgomery County Academy on senior night Oct. 14 to close out the regular season.

Following the Chargers’ 25-20, 25-18, 25-10 sweep of the Raiders, Sims offered perspective of what the senior class has meant to the Cornerstone volleyball program.

“We have a good group of seniors that have been here for a long time,” Sims said. “We’re going to take a little bit of a hit next season when they leave.”

The seniors each played a key role in their final home game.

Goodwin recorded five kills and six service aces for the Chargers, who improved to 8-7 overall and 8-4 in Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 1A, East Region matches.

Paszak added five kills, five digs and two service aces. Dorough finished with three digs in her final home match.

Perry chipped in a kill and closed out the match with back-to-back service aces to seal the Chargers’ victory.

Sophomore Ashley Malone paced Cornerstone with seven service aces, including four down the stretch in the final game.

Junior Jaclyn Largin led the Chargers with five assists. Eighth-grader Lindsey Sims added a kill and four service aces.

Junior Jana Armstrong registered two kills, three service aces, two assists and a dig.

The Chargers will participate in the AISA Class 1A, East Region tournament Oct. 18 at Edgewood Academy.