The Shadow
STAUNTON, Va. (VR) – Alleghany’s stronghold atop the district standings grew even firmer Saturday morning, as the Cougars rolled past Staunton in straight sets, 25–15, 25–16, 25–13.
Behind another commanding performance from setter Kendra Dressler, the Cougars dictated tempo from start to finish. Dressler distributed the ball with precision, collecting 32 assists while keeping Staunton’s defense guessing. At the net, Hannah Hensley continued her standout season with 14 kills and several key blocks that swung momentum firmly in Alleghany’s favor.
Staunton briefly challenged in the opening set, pulling even early before Alleghany’s front line settled in. Ava Lewis and Hensley took control with a series of quick attacks, forcing the Storm into defensive breakdowns and hurried passes. By mid-set, the Cougars led comfortably and never looked back.
The second set offered a short-lived back-and-forth stretch before unforced errors from Staunton opened the door for another Alleghany surge. Dressler found Ally Cottrell, who added eight kills, while Nevaeh Forbes anchored the back row with 14 digs, and Dressler with 13, keeping the Cougars in system throughout the frame.
Alleghany wasted little time closing the match in the third set, jumping out to a fast lead and maintaining complete control. Lewis and Hensley continued to dominate at the net, finishing off rallies with clean execution as the Cougars secured their 12th district victory.
The win pushes Alleghany to 18–3 overall and 12–2 in district play, extending its winning form heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
