The two Botetourt county high schools went head-to-head in volleyball last week and Lord Botetourt got the best of James River in Springwood. The two will meet again next Monday in Daleville.
The Cavaliers won in three sets last week, 25-20, 25-16 and 25-16 in a match that was much closer than the score indicates. There were many long volleys and spectacular digs in a very spirited match.
“We played well against James River,” said LB coach Julie Conner. “In the past few matches we’ve done a good job of moving the ball around and getting all our hitters involved in the offense.”
Julianna Stephenson led the Cavs with 14 kills and 19 digs. Nora Spickard had 13 kills, eight digs and two aces, while Emma Rice had six kills, three digs and five blocks. Skylar Morris contributed 38 assists and a pair of aces.
For River, Lexi McCullough led the team with 12 kills and 10 digs. Bella Gilliland had six kills and Emma Francis had three kills and four blocks. Mary Hoye had a dozen digs and Rachel Harless had 10.
Emma Lester had 17 kills in this match as well as 14 digs and four aces. McCullough and Francis had seven kills apiece and Gilliland had six to go with four blocks. Becky Mines had 25 assists, 16 digs and four aces and Mary Hoye contributed 24 digs.
LB returned to action Monday as the Cavaliers traveled to Christiansburg to take on a tough Blue Demon team. The match went right down to the end with the Demons pulling out a five-set victory, 20-25, 25-19, 14-25, 25-19 and 15-13.
“Christiansburg has a very good team,” said Conner, as the Cavaliers fell to 3-4 on the season.
Spickard led LB with 16 kills in this one, while Rice had 10 to go with five blocks. Stephenson had eight kills, 15 digs and three aces. Morris had 38 assists and Anna Dewease had 27 digs.
The Cavaliers were back in action Tuesday night at William Byrd, while River will travel to Stuarts Draft tonight. On Thursday, Northside will visit LB and next Monday the Cavaliers will host James River for an intra-county rematch.
