By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It went the distance.

The Callaway and LaGrange volleyball teams got together on Monday evening, and the match went the full three sets.

LaGrange won the first set 25-20, but Callaway rallied to win the second set 25-15.

After a short break, the teams returned to the court for the third and deciding set, and it was all LaGrange.

LaGrange took control of the set in the early going, and it cruised to a 25-9 home victory to beat Callaway for the second time this season.

Callaway and LaGrange both lost to Glenwood earlier in the day.

“We had a little pow-wow between that second and third set,” said Angie Newton, LaGrange’s head coach. “We talked about this being our house, and letting a cross-town rival come over and do that in our house. You saw our bench they stood up and got more into it. It took the whole team to win like that. That’s why it’s called a team.”

Chloe Beall, one of eight seniors for LaGrange, said everyone on the team stepped up the intensity level in the third set.

“I think for us, all of our girls really picked it up, and we came together,” Beall said. “We knew we wanted to beat our team across town. Our bench was fantastic. I think our energy really made a difference in the third set.”

For Callaway, it was the second close loss to LaGrange this season.

Earlier this season, Callaway lost to LaGrange in straight sets, 25-22, 25-22.

“You’ve got to finish, and that’s one thing we’re working on,” Callaway head coach Precious White said. “They’ll start off strong, but not finish. But we’re going to get there.”

The third set was tied 2-2 when Carmen McGhee’s winner gave LaGrange a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

A kill by Beall followed by an Inijah Jones service winner gave LaGrange an 11-3 lead.

LaGrange continued to pull away, and the net was even cooperating with the home team.

Ke’Tara Birt’s shot attempt hit the top of the net and spilled over onto the Callaway side of the court, and LaGrange led 19-7.

Moments later, Mikayla Canty’s kill at the tail end of a long rally gave LaGrange a 20-7 lead.

LaGrange was ahead 24-9 when Beall came through with a service winner to end the match.

The first set was a tight one.

It was tied 16-16 when Hannah Holcomb delivered a kill and a service winner to give LaGrange a two-point lead.

Beall’s kill gave LaGrange a 24-18 lead, and it won the set 25-20.

Callaway came charging back in the second set.

It was tied 3-3 when Callaway strung three straight points together, with Tatum Tucker’s service winner capping the 3-0 run.

Callaway’s lead was still three points when it scored four straight points, with Callie Shelton’s service winner giving the visiting team a 17-10 lead.

Cheney Eubanks, one of Callaway’s veterans, helped her team put the set away.

Eubanks had a kill, as well as a pair of service winners as Callaway finished the set on a 5-0 run to win 25-20.

Callaway and LaGrange will both be at home today.

Callaway will host Jordan and Central-Talbotton, and LaGrange will host Cedartown and Central-Carroll in a pair of area matches.

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