Fort sweeps Lee

FORT DEFIANCE — Fort Defiance coach Lynn Alexander couldn’t have been more proud of her players Thursday night after the Indians swept Robert E. Lee 25-19, 25-10 and 25-14.

The Indians came out strong from the start going on a 7-1 run to start the game. The Lee Ladies responded by going on their own run to tie the game at 16 on back-to-back aces from Victoria Williams.

With the score close Fort went on the attack with kills by Becca Houff and Kayla Pleskonko. The Indians fed off their emotion and Lee mistakes to take the 25-19 win.

In Game 2 it was much of the same as the Indians jumped out to a big lead. With the score 10-5 the Indians’ Houff slammed a kill to get six-point lead.

On the next play Houff dived to save a ball and give the Indians a lead that Lee Ladies could not overcome.

With the game soundly in favor of the Indians’ Katie Dunsmore and Houff combined for three kills to win the game.

The Lee Ladies were unable to gain any kind of rhythm as they were only able to muster up 10 points in Game 2 losing 25-10.

The Lee Ladies never had a shot in the third game as they found themselves down 10-0 to start the third. Lee coach Ruth Shaia called a timeout to regroup her team but they were unable to respond to the quickness of Fort.

Senior Heidi Michael put on a show in the third game with 10 service points. She had 22 for the match.

Pleskonko nailed an ace and Houff added a kill late in the third game to win the game for the Indians.

Alexander thought her girls came out a bit slow in the first but responded well in the second and third game.

“I though we came out sluggish in the first after last week [when] we came out strong against Lee,” said Alexander. “We went out and picked it up in the second and third game with strong serving.”

One of those Indians that had great serving was Michael.

“Serving is my strong point. It was really on tonight,” Michael said.

Michael was pleased with her team’s performance in such a big game against their rivals.

“Lee is always big competition so to get a win in the district is big for us,” Michael said.

Houff was impressed by how the students came out in large numbers and supported the Indians.

“They really give us a lot of momentum out there. We enjoy having them supporting us,” Houff said.

Michael led the Indians with 22 service points and nine digs while Jordan Leake had 21 assists and Pleskonko added three blocks.

The Indians (9-4, 4-1 Southern Valley) will be back in action on Thursday at Harrisonburg. 

Fort swept Lee in the JV match 25-16, 25-14. Elsie Martin had 14 service points and Payton Hill added nine kills for the Indians.