The Rockbridge County High School volleyball team split a pair of Shenandoah District matches last week, losing 3-1 at home to Alleghany but regrouping to beat Stuarts Draft by the same scoreline on the road.
On Tuesday of last week, Alleghany (6-1 overall, 4-1 district) secured a 25-19, 23-25, 2522, 25-16 victory in Lexington. Jada Hamilton paced the Wildcats (4-4, 2-4) with 11 kills and 16 digs. Maisen McKemy notched 33 assists and 17 digs for RC, and Cesi Beidle also totaled 11 kills.
The previous encounter between the two schools came in last year’s Region 3C semifinals in Covington, when second-seeded Alleghany ended 11th-seeded RC’s postseason run and qualified for the Class 3 state tournament with a 3-1 win. In the first Shenandoah District meeting between the two programs, which both joined the league this year, the Cougars proved to be too much for the ’Cats on their home floor.
“Alleghany is a very well coached team with good athletes,” RC head coach Gabe Wagner said. “They are very disciplined and were able to attack our weaknesses very consistently.”
Mackenzie McCormick had seven kills and two blocks for the Wildcats. Emmy Duff posted three blocks, and Ava Crocker notched 12 digs. RC also got three aces apiece from Beidle, McCormick and Hayley Higgins.
RC 3, SD 1
RC then came from a set down to record a 3-1 away victory over Stuarts Draft on Thursday.
McKemy coordinated a balanced offensive attack with 31 assists, and she also contributed three blocks as the Wildcats won 22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18. McCormick finished with nine kills and four blocks, while Beidle and Hamilton also registered nine kills apiece.
“We fought well against Draft and played a very consistent game,” Wagner said. “Our hitters were very effective thanks to a well-run offense.”
The ’Cats also served up 15 aces against the Cougars (3-5, 1-4). McCormick led the way with five, while Beidle dished up four and Higgins had three.
“I thought that we were able to control the game from the service line,” Wagner said. “Having 15 aces is no small feat.”
Higgins spearheaded RC’s defensive effort with 19 digs, while Crocker tallied 16 and Adrianna Grue chipped in 11. Duff had six kills, and Hamilton added a pair of blocks.
After some tough battles against quality opposition – RC dropped 3-2 decisions to Fort Defiance and Waynesboro two weeks ago – Wagner thinks his team is beginning to click.
“There is still a lot of growing left to do, but we are starting to find our groove, which is a lot of fun,” the RC coach said.
The Wildcats will play host to Staunton in a district match-up on Thursday, starting with the junior varsity game at 6 p.m. RC will start next week’s action on Monday at Turner Ashby, beginning with JV action at 5:30 p.m., and will return to district action on Tuesday at Buffalo Gap, starting with the JV match at 6 p.m.
WILDCAT SENIOR setter Maisen Mckemy collects one of her team-high 17 digs while senior middle hitter Mackenzie McCormick (10) watches. Mckemy also led RC with 33 assists. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
AT THE net, RC senior outside hitter Jada Hamilton watches the ball after spiking it. Hamilton contributed 11 kills and 16 digs. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photo)
