Cougars sweep Harrisonburg, prepare for final stretch

STUARTS DRAFT — Congratulations were abound on Tuesday night as Stuarts Draft swept Harrisonburg 25-15, 25-19, 25-8 in a non-district game at Draft. The Cougars (10-5, 4-1 Southern Valley) are winding their season like most of their counterparts in the Southern Valley.

The squad fatigued from a long season will play their last three district games before the district semifinals that will start on Oct. 30.

The latest victory against the Blue Streaks refueled the team.

Before Game 1 the Cougars gathered and huddled in the backfield of the court and yelled out “intensity”.

“We are tired. We have been working really hard,” Draft coach Kami Meeteer said. “Now it’s crunch time, now is the time to know what we need to do. I am very proud of my girls. They are really working towards that. They are doing a really good job.”

The Blue Streaks were slow in gaining their strength in Game 1 falling early 6-0.

They started to make up the points after the Cougars dropped the ball at mid-court and Mandy Kauffman added two kills. After four balls sailed out-of-bounds from Draft, the Blue Streaks and an additional point from Katie Surratt contributed to the first eight points.

Draft kept adding to the score with two kills from Callie Updike. Erin Brown and Ariel Christy kept the offense going and never looked back.

The Blue Streaks went on the attack, but the ball continually got caught in the net and went foul. The Blue Streaks collected 15 points, but Draft was one point shy of winning the game and Ariel Christy sealed the final point with a kill.

“We noticed a few players that were off their game,” said Aliya Stevenson, who had 12 kills. “They [Harrisonburg] are a good team. What we do in practice reflects how we play. We always say intensity because we know we can do better and get it done.”

Harrisonburg gave Draft a challenge in Game 2 by jumping ahead. They lead 12-10 and Draft was sluggish by over shooting and balls sailing out-of- bounds. The Blue Streaks capitalized on the out-of-bounds shot from Draft that added points to the visitor’s side. The teams went back-and-forth until both teams were tied 16-16 but Draft added eight straight points to take charge. Blue Streaks’ Mandy Kauffman had back–to back kills to recapture the lead, but it was too late.

The Cougars’ Jessie Ramsey knew about intensity, she clinched Game 3 to complete the sweep with 11 straight points. Harrisonburg scored eight points.

After Draft turned the game around in its favor in Game 2, Meeteer was happy to see that her squad went back to basics.

“It all went back to their consistency on their play,” Meeteer said. “They were able to mentally come back and win it.”

Draft will travel to Spotswood on Thursday night.