The Lord Botetourt volleyball team was hitting on all cylinders Monday as the Cavaliers defeated county rival James River in three sets. LB won 25-9 and 25-14 before edging the Knights in the third set, 25-23.
Nora Spickard led the Cavaliers with 10 kills while also contributing eight digs. Julianna Stephenson had nine kills and eight digs, Anna Dewease had 14 digs, Skylar Morris had 22 assists and Emma Rice had four kills and four blocks at the net.
For River, Emma Francis led with four kills and a block. Emma Lester had three kills and 11 digs and Rachel Harless had 10 digs.
With the win LB improved to 7-4 overall and the Cavaliers are 2-0 in Blue Ridge District play after downing two district rivals last week. LB won in four sets over both William Byrd and Northside.
The Cavs lost the first set in Vinton last Wednesday, 25-18, but rallied to win the next three, 26-24, 25-18 and 25-21. Spickard had 15 kills, 14 digs and three aces while Stephenson had 10 kills and 21 digs. Becca Huddleston had seven kills, Morris had 33 assists and Dewease had 37 digs and three aces.
A night later in Daleville the Cavaliers finished strong to beat Northside in four, 25-23, 18-25, 25-14 and 25-14. Stephenson had 10 kills in this one, Sydney Whorley had seven and Huddleston had six. Morris had 31 assists and three aces and Dewease had 26 digs.
The Cavaliers were scheduled to play at William Fleming on Tuesday and on Thursday Franklin County comes here for a big one. Both teams were undefeated in BRD play coming into the week.
James River traveled to Stuarts Draft last week and pulled out a marathon match with the Cougars in five sets. River won 25-18, 17-25, 26-28, 25-18 and 15-11.
Lexi McCullough had a big night for the Knights with eight kills, three blocks, three aces and 15 digs. Lester had six kills and three aces while Francis had nine blocks and a couple kills. Harless had 27 digs and Mary Hoye had 25.
The Knights are at Martinsville tonight. Next week they host Stuarts Draft for a rematch on Monday, then go to Floyd for a big Three Rivers District match on Tuesday, September 28.
