Unbeaten Fort Stymies RC

Wildcats Still In Search Of First District Win

The Rockbridge County High School volleyball team fell twice in Shenandoah District action last week, losing 3-0 decisions on the road to Riverheads and at home to Fort Defiance.

The Wildcats entered this week’s action with a 1-5 overall record and an 0-4 mark in the district.

On Thursday in Lexington, the Indians moved to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in Shenandoah competition with a 25-14, 25-14, 25-19 victory. Livia Clinedinst totaled 11 kills and four blocks for Fort, while Maddie Gale also finished with 11 kills.

Geneva Snyder posted a match-high 14 kills and added eight digs for RC. Cesi Beidle contributed seven kills and three service aces for the Wildcats, and Allison Licona-Asto registered 20 assists. The ’Cats also received eight digs from Adrianna Grue and five from Braelyn Polly.

Alexis Miller recorded 29 assists – including the 1,000th of her career – and three aces for the Indians, who have reached the Virginia High School League Class 2 state championship game in each of the past two seasons. The victory also marked the 100th in the career of Amber Pitsenbarger, Fort’s fifth-year head coach who is constructing a powerhouse at her alma mater.

“All credit to their coach, because she’s built a program for the last few years,” RC head coach Graceon Whitesell said about the Indians. “They already know their expectations, and what’s clicking for them at this point.”

With several key holdovers from its two state runner-up finishes still on the roster, Fort has sprinted out of the gates this season. The same was true in Thursday’s match, as the Indians jumped out to an 18-3 advantage in the first set.

Fort’s offense was clicking early, as the visitors racked up 14 kills in the opening frame. Gale led the way with five, while Clinedinst and Caroline Hanger chipped in three apiece. Miller logged 10 assists in the stanza.

But despite facing the large early deficit, the Wildcats battled back to make the scoreline respectable. Snyder posted six kills in the stanza, and she would add seven more in the third set.

“Geneva gave me everything that she’s got,” Whitesell said of the RC senior, who recently returned to action after suffering an injury in the Wildcats’ Aug. 31 match against Turner Ashby. “I appreciate everything that she’s done so far this season.”

Fort again came out strong in the second set, scoring eight of the first 10 points and keeping RC at arm’s length the rest of the way. The Wildcats were able to hang around longer in the third frame, pulling even at 12-12 midway through, but the Indians’ array of weapons ultimately proved too much to handle.

RC should still be able to pull several positives from Thursday’s performance, especially with the way the ’Cats battled against a team of Fort’s caliber.

“We have really talked about making sure that we are controlling our side – and our narrative and our momentum,” Whitesell said. “I credit my seniors for that senior leadership, and then trying to push through.”

Hanger finished with seven kills and two blocks for the Indians, while Harper Carter added four kills and four blocks.

Riverheads 3, RC 0

The Wildcats also lost in straight sets at Riverheads last Tuesday.

The Gladiators defended their home court with a 25-21, 25-11, 25-11 win. Riverheads would go on to beat Staunton 3-1 later in the week, improving to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in the district.

Beidle and Emerson Duff led RC with three kills apiece, and Licona-Asto totaled 10 assists and three digs. Grue also notched three digs, while Snyder and Addyson Pennington each recorded two kills and one block.

RC was slated to play host to Parry Mc-Cluer on Monday before visiting district rival Waynesboro last night. The Wildcats play host to district foe Alleghany on Thursday before continuing district action at Stuarts Draft on Tuesday, beginning with the junior varsity action at 6 p.m. on both nights.