The Hill – Veteran Head Coach Cindy Edwards has been leading her teams onto the Volleyball court in Carroll County for going on four decades now. Her team collected a monumental victory Tuesday night, 3-1( 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21) over Alleghany in the Cavaliers opening match of Three Rivers District play.
The 2024-2025 squad started the season with just eight combined years of Varsity experience. Gone was the stable of players that graduated, including District Player of the Year, Alyssa Ervin.
Edwards took another hit when she lost Junior Corrie Delp for the season and Brooke Webb missed some time as well and the team entered the night at 2-3 on the campaign.
Alleghany came to town and jumped out to an early lead in all four sets but the Lady Cavaliers played a bend but don’t break mentality, centered around the teams lone Senior, Aza Petty.
” Aza Petty had an outstanding game, she is our only senior and she played like she was,” Edwards said.
” Brooke Webb also had an outstanding game she had 5 kills but that does tell you had good she played, her energy tonight was contagious. Also I felt that Laken Burnett ran the offense very while finishing with 22 assist 1 block 1 ace and 5 digs.”
Coach Edwards was describing Winning by committee and the teams confidence grew as the night went on.
The opening set was the most back and forth of the evening as the teams remained within three points from start to finish. CCHS pulled away with a 4-1 spurt after the teams were tied at 21-21.
In the second set the Cavaliers were down 20-17 before closing out on an 8-1 run. Alleghany Coach Charles Leitch tried his best to slow the roll by using both of his timeouts during the deciding stretch.
Set number three followed the same path as the Cougars raced to 7-3 and 13-6 and 19-10 leads. This time Petty ( 14 kills, 3 Aces and 7 Diggs) and Callie Harris teamed up for a strong run before the visitors posted a 25-17 victory.
Alleghany looked to force a fifth set and looked well on their way, leading 12-5. Trailing 15-10 and the momentum belonging to AHS, Carroll County went on their biggest run 🏃♂️ of the evening.
By the time the dust settled the run was 10-2 and Carroll County led 20-17. The Lady Cavaliers took turns finishing off the Match with the honor of the final point belonging to Faith Nicholson. Raylee Goins and Arizona Thompson teamed up for a crucial Block after AHS pulled within one at 17-16.
This team lacks experience and by Volleyball 🏐 standards, lack height. But they are smart, play hard and well coached. All of that leads to being 1-0 in the District.
Carroll County (3-3, 1-0) returns to action Thursday night at Glenvar and returns to The Hill next Tuesday night to host James River High School.
Carroll County Junior Varsity opened the night and managed to go toe to toe against a much taller team. The teams were knotted at 16-16 before AHS closed the set on a 9-2 run for a 25-18 victory. In the second set the Lady Cavaliers were down 18-7 but managed to finish the contest on a strong note. The teams played out the match 7-7, giving the visitors a 2-0 sweep (25-18, 25-14)
A.S.P.N on The Hill 