Lady Wildcats' season ends with Regional loss to Cheraw

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Fleming Lady Wildcat volleyball squad will sit out the 1A State Volleyball Tournament. The team has qualified for State for the past 17 years, but hopes for an 18th consecutive appearance ended with a hard-fought Regional loss to the Cheraw Lady Wolverines last weekend.

Fleming entered the contest as the underdog seeded at number 14 going up against 11th ranked Cheraw. Cheraw held a 19-4 overall record going into the single-match Regional Tournament; Fleming went in at 12-11.

The local ladies played a solid first set and came out on top 25-17. They dropped the second set to hosting Lady Wolverines, 25-19, but bounced back to take control of the match with a 25-18 set three win.

The two teams battled in the fourth set, going into extra points, but Cheraw came out victorious, 26-24.

With the match tied at two-all, a fifth set would determine who would advance to the 1A State Tournament. The Lady Wildcats struck first and went up 3-0 before the Lady Wolverines put their first points on the board. In that possession, Cheraw would take the lead and go up 6-3.

The two teams battled and Fleming eventually tied the score, then took the lead at 8-7. They continued to match efforts playing back and forth, point-for-point.

Tied at 11-all, it appeared set number five could go into extra points, but Cheraw went on a three-point streak to put them on top 14-11. A sideout gave Fleming one last opportunity, but a serving error by the Lady Wildcats gave Cheraw the match point and the Lady Wildcats fell, 15-12.

Individual stats for the match were not reported as of press time.

MadiKay Serrato, the team's lone senior, wrapped up her time with the Lady Wildcats on the volleyball court. Her career has been decorated with three runner-up titles.

Watch future editions of the Herald for All-Conference designations.