By GALE CAVNESS
pressbox1.com

NEWBERN - Nothing can quite take the place of experience in athletic competition, as visiting Gibson County found out in volleyball action Tuesday night against Dyer County.

The Lady Choctaws, with 11 upper classmen leading the way, easily downed the youthful Lady Pioneers in three straight games, taking the scheduled best-of-five competition 25-3, 25-4 and 25-3. Gibson County, in its fifth season of play, has just a single player with more than one year on the court.

"We have a long way to go," Gibson County coach Kevin Turner said. "There just has to be a lot of improvement in a lot of areas, especially the fundamentals."

Dyer County coach Beth Ann Pope knows she’s fortunate to have six seniors and five juniors on her 14-player roster.

"There is no substitute for experience," she said following the contest. "We have experience on the floor. That’s what is helping us."

With the veterans leading the way, the Lady Choctaws have dropped just two outings in regular-season play. Losses came on the home court to rival Dyersburg and on the road at Brighton.

Dyer County’s experience certainly showed against the Lady Pioneers.

Brittany Studdard, a senior, opened the first game with the serve for Dyer County and vaulted the Lady Choctaws up 7-0 before the opposition could return a volley. It was 16-0 before the Lady Pioneers got on the scoreboard.

In game two, the home team had a 9-4 advantage when senior Cali Cupples went to the service line. With Cupples posting 16 straight points, the visitors didn’t get a serve the remainder of the game.

Cally Woods, a Dyer County junior, all but matched the efforts by Studdard and Cupples in the third game. With the Lady Choctaws in command 10-3, Woods booked 15 straight points with her serve to wrap up the competition.

Dyer County also won the lone B-team event, taking a 30-8 triumph.

According to Pope, who is in her first head-coaching position, the goal is continued improvement so the team will peak at tournament time.

"We pass well and we definitely hit the ball well," she explained. "And a lot of people contribute for us."

Other seniors on the DC squad are Alexa Tyler, Becca Green, Jennifer Jones and Kristen Welch. Additional juniors include Hannah Stewart, Brittany Moody, Beth Fisher and Jessica Jones.

Turner also expects his team to improve.

"I’m proud of their effort," the GC coach added. "The girls work hard; they practice every day. It’ll get better."

Dyer County will get some tough competition Saturday when it participates in a 12-team invitational tournament at Crockett County. Scheduled to play are the host school, Dyersburg, Lexington and Henry County in Pool A; Jackson North Side, Jackson South Side, University School of Jackson and Bolton in Pool B; and Trinity Christian Academy, Dyer County, Brighton and McNairy Central in Pool C.

Play will begin at three sites simultaneously at 9 a.m. Pool A games will take place at Crockett County High School, Pool B will clash at Crockett County Middle School and Maury City Elementary School is the host facility for Pool C competition

The Lady Choctaws, in Pool C, are slated to begin the day at 9 opposite Trinity Christian before facing Brighton at 10. McNairy will be the opponent at noon.

Dyersburg, in Pool A, opens with the host team at 9, tangles with Lexington at 10 and meets Henry County at noon.

Results of pool play will determine seeded play later in the day.