The Shadow
Last week, both the Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity Lady Cougars volleyball teams played away games against the Floyd County Buffaloes and Patrick County Cougars. While JV fell to both teams, the Varsity girls won in a 3-up, 3-down battle against Floyd County, but lost against Patrick County.
Even still, the JV Cougars finished the season with an impressive record of 21-2, securing the number one spot in the Three Rivers District. These ladies have worked hard all season and it’s shown through their team spirit, dedication, and perseverance.
We caught up with Head Coach Kelsey Young to get her thoughts after last week’s games. Young stated, “With the changes and adjustments we had the last two games, I couldn’t be more proud of the girls and their fight to the finish. Myself and both of my assistants, Maddi and Alivia, are so thrilled with how the season has played out. Win or lose, those girls have played one awesome season and I’m excited to see how they continue to improve throughout their careers as AHS Cougar Volleyball players! Next up, hopefully a Three Rivers District (TRD) JV championship win to top off the great season we’ve had!”
Their journey this season has been inspiring, especially given the challenges they faced. Following the consolidation of the schools, it was uncertain how the Mountaineers and Cougars would blend given the longtime rivalry between the two schools. Once they merged, fans wondered if it would be oil and water or benzene and xylene. Oil and water: a raging battle that ends with one on top of the other, demanding dominance. Benzene and xylene: throw in a few other ingredients, and you’ve got gasoline. All sports teams this season have been the latter. The Lady Cougars specifically have not only proven how miscible they are, bonding together to dominate the TRD, but how they can turn that gasoline into pure fire!
Just because the volleyball season has concluded doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for these young athletes. The JV Lady Cougars are preparing for their Three Rivers District championship game, while Varsity is set to play in the district semifinals. Both games are home games which will be held at Clifton Academy on Tuesday, October 24th, starting at 5:30 p.m. for the JV team and 7:00 p.m. for Varsity. Both teams are playing against the Glenvar Highlanders.
Earlier in the season, both the JV and Varsity Lady Cougars played against the Highlanders in two hard-fought games. Both JV and Varsity had the same results: in game one that occurred on September 21st, both teams won. Then, about a month later on October 17th, Glenvar rose victorious.
Meanwhile, the Varsity Lady Cougars have also had a tremendous season, finishing with an impressive 18-5 record. Their journey to the semifinals has been met with hard-fought battles and lessons learned over the past few months. Still, their prowess and determination have skyrocketed them to success under their tremendous coaching team led by Head Coach Charles Leitch. One player, Lexi Dressler, was awarded a golden volleyball for her accomplishment of achieving 1000 assists during her high school volleyball career. During a special presentation at Friday night’s Varsity football game against Patrick County, assistant coach Mary Tyree presented the unique volleyball to Dressler on the field as fans cheered.
The Varsity Lady Cougars’ season has been quite a ride and their advancement to the semifinals is the perfect way to finish their amazing story. We can’t wait to see the pages they write on the court this Tuesday.
The JV and Varsity Lady Cougars’ successes this season have been incredible to watch unfold on the court. As they prepare for Tuesday’s games, they carry with them the support of this amazing community. We encourage all who can to come on out to Clifton Academy on the 24th to support these girls, observe their hard work for yourselves, and cheer them on while donning your blue pride t-shirts. Go Cougars!
