The Parry McCluer High School volleyball team suffered a 3-0 home loss to Riverheads on Monday night in Buena Vista.
With the 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 nondistrict victory, the Gladiators (7-6) completed a sweep of the season series with the Fighting Blues (3-12). When the two teams met last Monday, Sept. 28 at Riverheads, the Gladiators won 3-1.
Riverheads used strong passing to get out to a big lead in the first set, while capitalizing on PM errors.
In the second set, the Gladiators led 13-7, but the Blues went on a 4-0 run and eventually took the lead, fueled by strong serving and net play. PM was up 22-19, but the Gladiators made three kills to tie it at 22-22. Melah Shirley then served up two aces for Riverheads, and teammate Hannah Williams ended the set with a kill.
Riverheads kept attacking the net in the third set, jumping out to a 10-2 lead. PM would cut it to 14-10, but the Gladiators responded with several kills and pulled away.
Josie Martinez led the Blues with five kills and had six digs and two blocks, while Jorja Catlett paced PM with eight assists and had 16 digs and a team-high five blocks. Presley Camden collected a team-high 24 digs, and Jaelyn Manning chipped in five digs.
Shirley paced the Gladiators with 10 kills and had 11 assists and 12 digs, while Chesney Dunlap led Riverheads with 17 digs and 17 aces. Hannah Williams contributed nine kills, while Eliza Fitzgerald had 13 digs.
The Blues will return to Pioneer District play on Tuesday at Narrows before playing host to district rival Eastern Montgomery on Thursday, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
For the story and photos from this week’s action, please see our Oct. 14 newspaper.
