Blues Fall To Green Wave, Mustangs
Parry McCluer High School lost its opening pair of Pioneer District volleyball matches in straight sets last week, falling to Narrows at home and to Eastern Montgomery on the road.
The Fighting Blues also suffered a 3-0 road loss to nondistrict rival Rockbridge County on Monday of last week. (See separate story).
On Tuesday of last week, the Green Wave (7-2 overall, 3-0 district) claimed a 25-9, 25-17, 25-11 victory in Buena Vista. Seven different players registered multiple kills for Narrows, led by eight from Summer McCroskey and six from Caelyn Buracker. Karsyn Reed tallied 23 assists, four kills and four service aces for the Green Wave, and Rebekah Farmer had five aces.
Jorja Catlett paced the Fighting Blues (1-8, 0-2) with eight assists, four kills and 10 digs. Josie Martinez also finished with four kills for PM, while Jaelyn Manning tallied three. Presley Camden recorded 21 digs and two aces, and Sophie Porterfield chipped in five digs.
With Reed – also a standout basketball player for Narrows – running the show at the setter spot, the Green Wave’s offensive balance kept the Blues on their toes for the entire game.
“Narrows was the first team we’ve had where there were multiple” key hitters, PM head coach Elle Kindred said. “Now that we’ve seen it, we know what to expect, and how to work towards … moving and adapting and finding ways to get it done.”
The Green Wave attack was sharp right from the outset, with six players getting on the board in the opening frame. Farmer also reeled off all five of her aces in a row to help Narrows craft an early 11-3 lead, and the visitors coasted in the first set.
PM gained a foothold in the second stanza, with Catlett, Manning and Kimber Hickman each recording two kills. One of Manning’s kills came in a great scramble play, when she managed to score a point while on the ground – having dived after a loose ball earlier in the rally.
“There were some very good moments of hustle and communication,” Kindred said. “Jaelyn Manning, for instance: she was all over the floor, so that was awesome to see.”
The Blues trailed just 12-10 midway through the second set. But Narrows then kicked into gear, going on a 7-1 run – which featured two kills apiece from McCroskey and Farmer – to build up an insurmountable 19-11 advantage.
The Green Wave completed the sweep with a commanding third set, sprinting in front 15-4 and never letting PM get back into the game.
Kailyn Jones posted five kills for Narrows. Buracker and Farmer each contributed two blocks, while Buracker and Allissa Price had two aces apiece.
Hickman and Ciara Hamilton each tallied two kills for the Blues. Manning and Martinez recorded one block apiece, and Camden added three assists.
While highlighting several areas of emphasis for PM, Kindred acknowledged the quality of Tuesday’s opposition. Narrows would go on to sweep Craig County on Thursday, improving to 3-0 in Pioneer play.
“They were a good team. It’s a privilege to get to play teams like that,” Kindred said. “Now we’ve just got to work on going upwards.”
