The Shadow
Coach Mary Tyree’s philosophy is a proven one.
Playing good competition makes you better.
This week, Covington’s volleyball team faces a four-match in three-day stretch that includes match-ups with a pair of defending state champions.
And despite a straight-set loss to Group A, Division 2 champion James River Tuesday night, the Cougars remain “on course.”
All-state hitter MariBeth Kern knocked down a match-high 13 kills, helping the Knights (13-1) to a 25-13, 25-22, 25-23 win in the Cougar Den.
“From the last three points of the first set, through the second and third sets – that was my team,” said Tyree. “They played hard and hustled.”
Much like their loss to Bath County last week, Covington started slowly on Tuesday.
James River rolled to an easy first-set win, before being pushed in sets two and three.
“I guess it’s nerves, I don’t know,” said Tyree of the slow starts. “Once the girls realize that they can play with them, they are a different team.”
The Cougars led late in the second and third, before being turned away.
Shanna Woodward’s serving, the sets of Daylin Tyree and net play from Leteashia Clarke, Sa’Mone Moore and Larissa Moore keyed a second-set run.
Trailing 17-13, the Cougars ripped off seven straight, including two kills and two blocks from Clarke.
A Sa’Mone Moore kill and a Knight error off a Larissa Moore serve kept Covington in front 22-21, but River finished with four straight, including two kills from Rachael Hepler.
A six-point run gave the Cougars a 21-19 lead late in set three.
Tyree served up the run that included two kills from Sa’Mone Moore.
Sa’Mone’s block evened the set at 23-all, but a CHS error and a Conner Sprinkle kill secured the win for the Knights.
“I’m not disappointed at all,” Tyree said. “We were able to play with them point-for-point after that first set. We started moving our feet and picking up their tips.”
Sa’Mone Moore had a team-high seven kills to go with three blocks for Covington, while Clarke added four kills and six blocks and Larissa Moore had three kills.
Woodward and Kristina Huffman both served 16 points, while Tyree contributed three aces, two kills and 16 assists.
Kern added five blocks to her 13 kills, while Ashley Cummings added three aces and 34 assists for the Knights, who are now 39-3 over the last two years and are currently the top ranked team in Region C, Division 2.
Covington plays a doubleheader tonight at Summers County.
The Cougars square off with the host Bobcats, the 2010 West Virginia Group AA state champion, and Meadow Bridge.
Covington is 9-3 on the year and ranked fourth in Region C, Division 1, with losses to Bath County, Grace Christian and James River – teams that have a combined record of 42-6.
“You get better playing better teams,” said Tyree.
Tuesday’s junior varsity preliminary saw James River post a 25-22, 25-14 win.
Emily Comer and Autumn Woodson were the leading servers for the Little Cougars with eight points each.
Megan Jefferson and Haley Alban both had five, Burke Staunton scored four, Laramie McCallister and Makayla Andrews both had two each and Alexis Ballard and Bailey Hall added one apiece.
