Draft sweeps Wilson in first SVD meeting

FISHERSVILLE — For the first time since 1996, the rivalry between the storied volleyball programs of Stuarts Draft and Wilson Memorial again holds district ramifications. The former Skyline District members hooked up Tuesday night in a Southern Valley contest that saw the visiting Cougars win in a three-game sweep 25-21, 25-13, 25-20.

Stuarts Draft controlled all three games with a balanced attack, as coach Kami Meeteer found meaningful minutes of playing time for every player on her squad.

“I have a very strong team, all thirteen of them,” Meeteer said. “I feel that at anytime I can put any lineup on the floor and it will work for us.”

Meeter took full advantage of her balanced team, shuffling in her four freshman throughout the match and at times putting them on the court at the same time.

Kills by Emmy Blacka and McKenna Carter put Draft up early in Game 1 and it looked as if the Cougars would pull away after two aces from Blacka put the team up 12-6. Wilson would stage a rally, however, going on a 6-0 run at one point to take a 16-15 lead. Two aces from Lauren Ellis were enough to stop the bleeding and Draft went on to the 25-21 first game win.

Two aces from Erin Brown and a Chayla Burkholder kill got Draft jumpstarted in the second game as the Cougars quickly went up 11-3. Emmy Blacka then got hot from behind the service line leading Draft on a 7-0 run the effectively put the game out of reach.

Wilson was not going to go quietly as senior Noel Bartley led an inspired charge with three kills early in the third to keep the Hornets in the match. Stuarts Draft was up to the challenge and answered back via kills from Carter and Callie Updike which pushed the Cougars ahead by three and the team never looked back.

Senior Chayla Burkholder was strong down the stretch, recording three big kills that lead Draft to the Game 3 win and the match victory.

The match left Wilson coach Kim Claytor searching for answers.

“We knew that they had a good team, but we also knew that we could play with them, but for some reason we just couldn’t do it on the court,” Claytor said. “We have to find out how to put it all together.”

Chayla Burkholder led Draft with 12 kills, while Caroline Campbell had a team high 18 digs. Erin Brown led the team with 11 points, including four aces. Brown also led the team with 16 assists.

Noel Bartley led the Hornets with seven kills and Trisha Bruce led the team with six assists.