Lady Hawks fly into October

Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SOUR LAKE — Hardin-Jefferson volleyball has carried strong momentum into October, with the Lady Hawks establishing themselves as one of the tougher teams in district play. Hardin-Jefferson enters the month with a 4-1 district record after wins over Livingston, Hamshire-Fannett, Liberty and Shepherd. The Lady Hawks’ only district loss came on the road against Hargrave, where they were swept 3-0. Before that setback, Hardin-Jefferson had put together an impressive run that included a five-set win over Hamshire-Fannett and a 3-0 sweep of Shepherd. The Lady Hawks have been fueled by a young roster that has already produced several standout performances. Freshman Kenleigh Smith leads Hardin-Jefferson with 362 kills and averages 4.0 kills per set. She has also contributed 290 assists, 192 digs, 50 total blocks and 43 aces, making her one of the most versatile players on the roster. Sophomore Payton Leger has added 207 kills and leads the team with 54 aces. She has also recorded 165 digs and 311 receptions. Sophomore Charlotte Adamson has been another major presence at the net, totaling 152 kills and a team-high 65 blocks while also adding 49 aces. Senior setter Jaycee Dill continues to run the offense, leading Hardin-Jefferson with 428 assists while contributing 158 digs. The combination of young offensive firepower and veteran experience has helped the Lady Hawks remain in strong position as the district schedule continues. With several key matches still ahead, Hardin-Jefferson has an opportunity to turn a strong start into a playoff run. The Lady Hawks have already shown they can win tight matches and control opponents when they find their rhythm. Now the challenge is maintaining that consistency as October volleyball begins to separate contenders from the rest of the district.