Waynesboro shuts down Broadway

Waynesboro got the win Thursday night and the fans got the assist.

After dismantling Broadway 25-11 in the first game, Waynesboro fell behind in the second. A thunderous cheering section helped spark the Little Giants from a 15-11 deficit in the game to a 25-20 win. In the third game Waynesboro led start to finish to win 25-21 and earn the sweep.

“The crowd was amazing,” said Waynesboro’s Haley Quesenbery. “They were our seventh player and they got us into the game. We played really well tonight and had a lot of intensity.”

Even three weeks ago, the Little Giants struggled in close matches, but Waynesboro coach Lori Aleshire said the passion in the gym helped keep Waynesboro focused.

“They played with a lot of intensity,” Aleshire said. “It helped having so many fans here. It’s spirit week so it is good to have everyone here.”

It was a special night for Quesenbery and Norah Curtis — it was their final regular season match at Waynesboro. The Little Giants’ final two matches are both on the road, including a trip to Southern Valley foe Fort Defiance on Tuesday.

“Norah and I were talking [and said], ‘it’s the last time we could possibly play here,’ ” Quesenbery said.

After the match, Quesenbery was still soaking in her final regular season appearance in the Waynesboro gym as students and faculty filed out for the annual bonfire.

“It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I love volleyball, I’m really sad it’s over.”

She’s been on a tear for the last two weeks, and her power at the net and at the service line was felt. In Game 3 she nailed an ace to put the Giants up 3-0 and rolled from there. The Gobblers climbed back into the game and threatened to tie it at 20.

Quesenbery then scored two kills to give the Little Giants the breathing room they needed to grab the 25-21 win.

Curtis nailed two aces in the Little Giants dominating 25-11 win in the first game, and kept the Giants in Games 2 and 3 with several key digs.

The Gobblers threatened in the second game, but Rachel Binda nailed a kill to make the score 18-15 in Broadway’s favor and start a Waynesboro rally. Sophomore Jolie Dudley hit an ace on the next point and a Binda followed with a kill. After a Broadway point, Heather Sutton scored on a block and Binda hit back-to-back aces to knot the game at 20.

“We get in those grooves where we are content with how we are playing,” Aleshire said. “We need to keep pushing. It’s a mental thing. Basically the crowd, that’s what helped us tonight. We wanted to end it in three games that was our goal.”

Waynesboro watched as Broadway scored the final five points on itself with netballs, hitting fouls and out-of-bounds shots.

The Little Giants will travel to Fort Defiance on Tuesday for their final Southern Valley match and will have Thursday off.