The Shadow
SPRINGWOOD – At the James River Invitational held on Saturday, September 21st, Alleghany’s varsity volleyball team finished in second place following a 3-2 record where they lost both of their matches to E.C. Glass, one in pool-play and the other in the tournament finals.
In the tournament, the pool-play and playoffs, each of the sets were best of three.
The Cougars defeated Appomattox County in their first contest where they won in two-sets winning 25-18, 25-18.
Senior Kaiya Lian led the team with 10 kills and six digs, while senior Bryce Leitch also had six digs and added seven kills. Sophomore Kendra Dressler had 17 assists.
Bailey Hamilton and Regan Shields each recorded six kills for Appomattox County. Hamilton also had three aces, while Emily Dudley led the team with nine digs.
In Alleghany’s second pool-play match, the Cougars dropped their first contest to Glass, losing in three sets 23-25, 25-17, 9-15.
Lian provided AHS with nine kills, nine aces, and six digs. Leitch had six kills and a team-high eight digs. Dressler dished out 20 assists, while junior Hannah Hensley added five kills.
The trio of Jayden Smith, Elizabeth Bauer, and Aubri Willis, combined for 24 kills in Glass’s first win over Alleghany.
Alleghany would wrap up pool-play with a 2-1 record following a blowout two-set victory over Parry McCluer winning 25-14, 25-9.
Hensley led the way for the Cougars with seven kills and three aces, while senior Savannah Cash added four aces, and Dressler had 15 assists.
In the semifinals, Alleghany was victorious in a close three-set match with James River (Buchanan) where they rallied to 24-26, 25-22, 15-7 after dropping the first set.
Lian led the way for 11 kills, four aces, and nine digs for the Cougars. Hensley provided eight kills and four digs. Senior Laken Tingler and junior Alaina McCormick each had five kills. Dressler once again was an assist machine with 22 and had a team-high 13 digs, while Cash had 11 digs.
In a pool-play rematch, Glass once again bested Alleghany in a close three-set contest, winning 28-30, 25-17, 16-14.
The trio of Willis, Bauer, and Smith led the Raiders once again with a combined 27 kills, with Willis leading the way with 12.
In the tournament finals, Lian led the team with 12 kills and five aces. Dressler dished out a tournament best-high 24 assists. Hensely added nine kills, while Cash had a team-high 12 digs, and senior Jayahna Hughes added 11 digs.
Following the tournament, Alleghany had improved to 11-3 overall and 3-1 in Three Rivers District play.
James River Tournament Results
Pool-Play
Alleghany d. Appomattox County 25-18, 25-18
E.C. Glass d. Alleghany 23-25, 25-17, 9-15
Alleghany d. Parry McCluer 25-15, 25-9
Semifinals
Alleghany d. James River (Buchanan) 24-26, 25-22, 15-7
Finals
E.C. Glass d. Alleghany 28-30, 25-17, 14-16
