Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
It wasn’t Samantha Wilkins’ first volleyball win on the LB bench, but it was her first win sitting on the end when the Cavaliers defeated visiting James River in the first match for both county schools last week.
Wilkins, a longtime assistant to Julie Conner, slid into the drivers’ seat this year when Conner resigned her position. She opened her era with a win as LB defeated a game James River bunch in three sets, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-18 in Daleville.
Becca Huddleston led the Cavaliers with 15 kills. Bria Harvey had 10 digs and Skylar Morris dished out 36 assists.
“We played scrappy defense and served aggressively, we just had too many hitting errors to be able to compete,” said River coach Linsey Firebaugh.
River bounced back with a win at Bassett on Thursday of last week. The Knights downed the Bengals in three sets, 25-18, 25-15 and 25-15.
“It was a slow night,” said Firebaugh. “We fought through the lack of energy and pulled out a win.”
Lord Botetourt and James River were scheduled to play a rematch in Springwood on Tuesday of this week but results were too late for publication. On Thursday the Cavaliers go to Blacksburg and Bassett will return the trip to Springwood to meet the Knights.
