RADFORD – A week after splitting their first two Three Rivers District games of the season, Alleghany kicked off the week last Tuesday with a big comeback district win over Radford, winning 25-19, 21-25, 13-25, 26-24.
The Bobcats had all the momentum going for them following a 12-point third set victory where they took a 2-1 set lead.
On top of it, Radford was in the driver’s seat for well part of the fourth set as they had taken an early 6-2 advantage and then took a late 17-14 lead.
However, the visiting Cougars had other ideas. With the Bobcats in prime position, AHS rallied off four straight points, including a kill from senior Kaiya Lian to tie the set at 17-17 and a block from senior Bryce Leitch to give AHS their first lead since it was 11-10.
With Alleghany retaking the lead, the two teams would exchange back and forth with one another. Trailing 20-19, Radford would gain control of the set by putting together a rally of their own by grabbing three straight points to take a 22-20 lead.
Once again, the Cougars found themselves looking for a rally and grabbed a big kill and block from junior Hannah Hensley to tie the set back at 22-22.
The two teams would be locked in at 24-24 before Hensley’s kill to put Alleghany ahead, which was then followed by Leitch’s set-ending block for the 26-24 set win.
In the fifth set, both teams were locked-in as the final set was tied all the way to the fifth point. Alleghany though would strike after falling behind 7-6 and would score four in a row to take a 10-7 lead, including a kill from Lian that helped set the Cougars in prime position.
With AHS in front 12-10, the Cougars would score the set’s final three points, including a block and a game-ending kill from senior Laken Tingler to seal the comeback victory.
Lian, Leitch, and Hensley all were in double digits for kills. Lian had a team-high 24, while Leitch had 15, and Hensley had 10. Lian added 14 digs, while Leitch had 12 and four blocks.
Tinger had nine kills, nine assists, and 10 digs. Senior Savannah Cash added 12 digs, and sophomore Kendra Dressler piled up 41 assists.
The JV Cougars team were also winners at Radford, winning 25-19 and 25-12.