Three-time defending state champion Lord Botetourt opened the volleyball season by splitting two matches last week. The Cavaliers saw their 56-match win streak come to an end at the hands of William Byrd, but the girls bounced back for a three-set win over Staunton River.
Of course, it’s difficult to compare teams from season to season with players graduating and rosters changing. It’s not fair to the current team as the Cavaliers had a solid core of seniors who graduated last year, finishing their careers with three state champions and a string of 192 sets without a loss.
Botetourt made it 194 straight sets in last week’s season opener in Daleville, winning 25-23 and 25-21 to open the match with Byrd. However, the Terriers caught fire and ended the set streak, winning 25-21 in set three. Then they ended the winning streak by taking the next two, 25-15 and 15-9.
Annelise Wolfe led LB with 12 kills, 11 digs and three aces. Hailey Deter and Nora Spickard had eight kills each and Spickard also had 16 digs. Anna Dewease had 28 digs and Rylee White had 28 assists and eight digs in the longest match LB has had since the state semifinal with Hidden Valley in 2018.
On Thursday the Cavs bounced back with a three-set win over Staunton River in Moneta, 25-14, 25-12 and 25-18. Wolfe had nine kills and four aces, White had 22 assists and six digs, Dewease had 14 digs and Sydney Whorley contributed six aces and six kills.
Lord Botetourt was back home Wednesday to host Franklin County but results were too late for publication. The Cavaliers are at Northside Thursday.
“The girls have been really excited, so it was nice to get back out there and play,” said Conner.