By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

PELHAM — Oak Mountain High School volleyball players didn’t sweat much in a 25-15, 25-10, 25-18 win over Daphne in the quarterfinals of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A state tournament Oct. 27 at the Pelham Civic Complex.

Oak Mountain breezed through its Elite Eight opener and will face Grissom in the Class 6A semifinals Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

The most work the Eagles had came during a 30-minute delay in the first game of the match.

Players on the Oak Mountain bench pitched in to help AHSAA and PCC officials clean up after a player ran into the water cooler on the Oak Mountain sideline, which splashed water on the playing surface that quickly drained underneath the volleyball court.

Officials had to break apart part of the playing floor to dry up the moisture.

Meanwhile, a packed Oak Mountain student section chanted “Let’s Go Eagles” while the Eagles’ starting six stretched and gave high-fives to each other to stay warm.

Leading 12-10 before the delay, the Eagles quickly put away the Trojans in three games. Senior setter Chelsea Payne faked an offensive attack and tipped the ball into the heart of the Daphne defense to seal a 25-18 win in the third game.

Payne led the Eagles with a team-high 26 assists. Payne added three kills and three digs for Oak Mountain, which improved to 56-18.

Senior middle attacker Samantha Skinner led the Eagles with 13 kills. Skinner added six digs, three blocks and a service ace.

Junior outside hitter Sara Goodwin recorded 11 digs, four kills, a block and a service ace.