The Shadow
FISHERSVILLE, Va. (VR) – Alleghany gave Wilson Memorial all it could handle Tuesday night, battling through momentum swings and clutch moments before ultimately falling in a five-set heartbreaker.
The Cougars came out sharp and confident, taking the opening set 25–18 behind steady serving and aggressive play at the net. But after Wilson evened the match with a tight 25–22 second-set win, the night turned into a back-and-forth duel that tested both teams’ composure and endurance.
Wilson’s energy carried into the third set as the Hornets surged ahead early and never looked back, winning 25–12. Despite the rough stretch, Alleghany’s response was immediate — and emphatic.
After the half, the Cougars came out fired up in the fourth set and controlled play from the first serve. Setter Kendra Dressler directed a balanced attack as Alaina McCormick, Hannah Hensley, and Taylor Stayton powered a series of kills and blocks that pushed Alleghany to a 13–5 lead. The Cougars’ defense stayed locked in, and Ava Lewis finished it off with a kill to close the set 25–18 and force a decisive fifth.
Alleghany jumped ahead 3–2 in the final frame, but Wilson found one last run, scoring eight straight points to swing the momentum. The Cougars refused to fade quietly, trimming the deficit to 12–10 on a Hensley kill and an Allyson Cottrell block, but the Hornets held on to edge out the final set 15–11.
