Tuesday, Aug. 26 - The Rockbridge County High School volleyball team defeated Parry McCluer 3-0 in the season opener for both teams in Lexington.
Maisen McKemy notched 25 assists and four different Wildcats registered at least six kills as RC posted a commanding 25-12, 25-12, 25-8 victory. Cesi Beidle led the way with eight kills, followed by Mackenzie McCormick and Emma Johnson with seven apiece and Jada Hamilton with six. Hayley Higgins paced the defensive effort with 20 digs; Hamilton had nine digs, and McKemy and Savannah Whitmer chipped in seven apiece.
The Fighting Blues got two kills apiece from Allie Cullen, Jorja Catlett and Josie Martinez. Cullen also collected a team-high 10 digs, and Kadence Zollman notched two blocks and eight digs. Martinez served up two aces, and Catlett had three assists.
The Wildcats sprinted out to a 9-3 advantage in the opening set, and they widened the gap to 19-7 with a later 7-1 run. McKemy tallied 11 assists in the frame, which featured four kills from Beidle and three from McCormick.
PM jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second stanza behind consecutive blocks from Zollman and a kill from Martinez. But the advantage would prove short-lived, as an 8-1 stretch from the 'Cats swiftly turned the set in the home team's favor.
RC looked even more dominant in the third set, assuming a quick 14-2 lead and never letting the Blues back in it. The Wildcats' offensive balance remained on display in the closer, with four different players recording multiple kills in the frame.
The 'Cats also served up 14 aces in the match: Higgins had four, Hamilton and McCormick each finished with three, and Johnson notched two.
PM will entertain Roanoke Catholic in the Blues' home opener on Thursday, beginning with the junior varsity match at 5:30 p.m. RC returns to action with its Shenandoah District debut at Wilson Memorial on Tuesday, Sept. 2, where JV action starts at 6 p.m.
