The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS – Allison Williams may have the most important job on the floor.
And in her first year as Bath County’s full-time setter, the senior is settling into her role quite nicely.
Tuesday night, Williams distributed 30 assists to six different hitters as the Chargers won a straight-set, 25-20, 25-19, 25-17 non-district match over Alleghany.
“Allison is the one that makes all these plays happen,” said BCHS coach Martha Carter. “Once we clear the zones for her, she will go anywhere. She’s doing an excellent job.”
Fifteen of Williams’ assists went to outside hitter Katie Rice, while Kendal Woodzell added seven, Whitney Shifflett had six and Mikayla Miller added five as the Chargers completed the season-sweep of the Mountaineers.
Rice, who was set last year by big sister Ashley, recognized the importance of Williams.
“The set is definitely important and the pass is equally important,” said Rice. “Allison and I click well. When there is a good pass, she always gets it where I need it.”
The Chargers (2-6) used a Shifflett serving run in set one, held off a Mountaineer rally in the second and finished off their guests with a 10-2 run in the third.
“I am waiting for the girls to show up that played Covington at home,” said Alleghany coach Tara Uzzell, whose team dipped to 1-4. “We haven’t played to that level since that match.”
The Mountaineers, whose rematch with the Cougars comes Thursday in Covington, were led by Maegan Walton on Tuesday with four kills. Hayley Oliver and Olivia Smith had three kills each, while A.J. Keith handed out 11 assists.
Alleghany nearly pulled off a big comeback down a set and 21-10 in the second.
An Oliver six-point serving run, sparked by kills from Smith and Walton, sliced the Charger lead to 21-17.
A Bath service error, one of 14 on the night, made it 22-19, but a Woodzell kill, a Miller block and an Alleghany error closed the set.
Uzzell decided to go to her bench in set three, sitting most of her starters.
After playing Bath to a 15-15 tie midway through the set, Allyson Cutlip strung three aces together to put the hosts in command.
Hannah Bradley had three kills off the bench in the third, while Lacy Shifflett and Taylor Morgan joined Bradley with aces.
“I really didn’t care what the score was in that third set,” Uzzell said. “I was just looking for people to play as a team, people that look excited, people that get excited and people that support one another.”
Bath County was coming off an 0-5 performance at the Richmond Volleyball Showcase over the weekend.
Carter said the weekend experience was a teaching tool.
“Even winning the two sets that we did in Richmond really helped us,” said the first-year BC coach. “Those girls we played against were big and they really knew what they were doing. It was fun – I think our girls took a lot from that.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Chargers on Thursday, traveling to unbeaten Roanoke Catholic (5-0).
Alleghany was a straight-set winner in Tuesday’s junior varsity match, 25-11, 25-22.
