By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was a county showdown, with the Callaway and LaGrange High volleyball teams sharing the court on Thursday evening.

In a hard-fought match, LaGrange prevailed in straight sets, 25-18 and 25-19.

LaGrange and Callaway also played Bremen, and they dropped close matches.

LaGrange fell to Bremen 25-19 and 25-21, and Callaway lost to Bremen 25-20 and 25-21.

In the day’s first match, LaGrange started slowly in each set and was unable to make up the ground against Bremen.

“We hung in there, but we had a slow start,” LaGrange head coach Angie Newton said. “I think if we’d have started out stronger we would have done a lot better against Bremen.”

Following a short break, LaGrange returned to the court and came away with the win against Callaway.

“We had some girls that played their hearts out today,” Newton said. “They’re coming along. They’re progressing every match.”

Newton credited the five seniors, Mikayla Canty, Cameron Jones, Haley Rippy, Shaela Battle and Madison Coverson, for leading the way.

Newton also recognized sophomores Addie Eiland and Lauren Park for their contributions on Thursday.

“I’m really excited about the young talent,” Newton said.

LaGrange opens its area schedule on Tuesday with home matches against Chapel Hill and Troup.

Callaway went winless on Thursday, but second-year head coach Precious White was pleased with what she saw.

After competing hard against LaGrange, Callaway hung tough with Bremen, which was a nice change of pace from a year ago.

“Compared to last year, we were losing by 10 or 15 (to Bremen), so to lose by four or five, I’d call that improvement,” White said. “I’m proud of them, we just have to finish. I was very proud of the girls.”

Callaway was short-handed on Thursday, with senior leader Cheney Eubanks unable to go because of an illness.

White said fellow senior Callie Shelton, a setter, “stepped up” and played well in Eubanks’ absence.

“She set us all the way around and did a great job,” White said.

Callaway will put its 1-0 area record on the line when it visits Spencer on Tuesday.