Photo 📷 Credit – Patti Goins
Covington – There is a saying in life and in sports that tells you Don’t Poke the Bear. Earlier this season Carroll County Volleyball poked the Three Rivers District version of said Bear 🐻 by upsetting the 5-0 Alleghany Cougars during their visit to The Hill.
Thursday night the Lady 👩 Cavaliers made the long drive 🚗 to the Highlands and they received a less than cordial welcoming as the Cougars swept the match 3-0 ( 25-15, 26-24, 25-21).
AHS is head and shoulders more talented than their six rivals in the TRD so the question at the beginning of the season wasn’t would they win the regular season, it was would they go 12-0 along the way ?
Last month, Head Coach Cindy Edwards and her overarching team popped the undefeated balloon 🎈in their first district match. AHS was looking forward to avenging the setback in the rematch and flexed their muscles right out of the gate.
Carroll County trailed 13-5 in the opening set when they tried to mount a rally. Aza Petty and Raylee Goins connected for back to back Kills but CCHS was unable to mount a serious run. The team dropped the opening set 25-15 and nobody would have blamed them for excepting it wasn’t going to be their night.
Carroll County (7-7, 4-3) played as well in the second set as they have all season with one exception. The Cavaliers gave up six points on service errors yet still managed to tie the set at 22-22 on the most remarkable volley of the night.
At one point the two teams combined for four straight service errors but the eye popping ability to Dig out the thunderous swings and the play of Petty kept CCHS in the set. Goins served an Ace to tie it at 24-24 before the Cougars finished it off 26-24.
If it was surprising how hard that Carroll County played while down 1-0 on the road in a hostile Gym, then the third and final set was astonishing.
While a number of teams that CCHS faces have one or two big hitters Alleghany can score a point from every spot on the court.
AHS raced out to a 6-1 lead, forcing Coach Edwards to call an early timeout. The lead was out to 18-7 when the Lady 👩 Cavaliers made their BIG run 🏃♂️.
By the time the dust settled CCHS posted a 9-1 run to pull within 19-16. Callie Harris led the way with two Aces plus Arizona Thompson added one solo point before teaming up with Ali Wright on a picture perfect block. Laiken Burnett capped the run with an Ace.
Down 21-16, Petty did her best to carry her young teammates across the finish line. The lone Senior scored three Kills down the stretch as CCHS fought off three match points before falling 25-21.
On the road, far from home and playing the best team on their schedule in the loudest building in the District, CCHS flirted with stealing a set or two before heading back home.
Carroll County will play the ever so rare Saturday home match tomorrow when they welcome Gate City to The Hill, starting with the Junior Varsity Match at 1pm.
Head Coach Jason Petty and his JV squad fell 2-0 (25-17, 25-16)
A.S.P.N on The Hill 