Tuesday, Aug. 25 -- Rockbridge County took down Parry McCluer in straight sets in the high school volleyball season opener for both teams in Buena Vista.
Cesi Beidle and Geneva Snyder tallied eight kills apiece to propel the Wildcats to a 25-20, 25-13, 25-9 victory. RC also served up 14 aces, getting six from Snyder and four from Adrianna Grue. Allison Licona-Asto had 11 assists, five digs and two aces for the 'Cats, while Grue and Braelyn Polly tallied seven digs apiece.
Jorja Catlett led the Fighting Blues with four kills and four assists. Josie Martinez had three kills, while libero Presley Camden notched two aces and anchored the PM defense with a solid performance on the back row.
RC jumped out to large early leads in all three sets. But after the Wildcats assumed an 18-9 advantage in the opener, the Blues came roaring back to close to within a single point at 21-20. A pair of Snyder kills helped swing the momentum back in RC's favor, and the 'Cats closed out the set with a block from Tadara Cooper and Emerson Duff.
The Wildcats secured a 6-1 edge to start out the second frame, and a later 9-2 stretch put them comfortably in front at 18-9. RC then zoomed ahead 9-1 in the third set, getting three early aces from Snyder, and the 'Cats never let PM back into the stanza while closing out the contest.
Emmilyn Kelly notched eight assists for RC, while Duff totaled three kills and a match-high three blocks. Madeline White added three kills, and Beidle also finished with a pair of blocks.
Ciara Hamilton had two kills for PM. The Blues also picked up one block apiece from Catlett, Hamilton and Kimber Hickman.
PM will play host to James River on Thursday, while the Wildcats return to action with their home opener against Turner Ashby on Monday. Junior varsity action begins at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
