Rockbrige blanks Lee

STAUNTON – Rockbridge easily swept Robert E. Lee in three games, winning 25-13, 25-20, 25-17 on Tuesday.

The Wildcats clobbered past the Lee Ladies with help from Katie Evans and Katie Clemmer controlling the action at the net.

Game 1 went by easily for Rockbridge and once the Wildcats got past a tie at five, they continued to keep the lead and allowed only one kill from Lee. A hard kill from Evans followed up by an ace from Kelsee Grant, sent the teams into the second game.

Lee led off in Game 2 with a quick ace from Victoria Williams, but Rockbridge was able to answer with a solid kill from Evans. The score continued to seesaw back-and-forth with kills from the Lee Ladies’ Williams and the Wildcats’ Clemmer and Evans.

After a tie at 14, Rockbridge again ran away with the score thanks to aces from Evans and concrete play at the net by Clemmer. The Wildcats got stuck at 20 allowing Lee to gain momentum and bring the score back to a tie. A time-out played in Rockbridge’s favor though, as the Wildcats immediately came out with back-to-back kills from Grant followed by back-to-back aces from Brittany Sherman ending the game.

“The girls had a good attitude this match,” said Rockbridge coach Jessica Smith. “I always think that they can do better.”

Game 3 played out even better for the Wildcats compared to the previous. Rockbridge led with a swift three-point run and once the lead was in the paws of the ’Cats, they never gave it up.

With the score at 14-10 and Hannah Patterson at the line for the serve, the Wildcats went on a ravenous seven-point run, with most of the kills coming from Evans, putting the ‘Cats up 20-10.

“Katie [Evans] usually leads our kills,” Smith said. “She’s the one we go to because she can finish it.”

Lee was able to sneak in a few more shots from Kendra Scott’s block and kill and two tips from Hanna Truxell, but it was a futile effort.

“We need to get ready for Fort Defiance now,” Smith said. “We went to five sets with them [Fort] last time. Hopefully this win will get us ready for that.” 

Evans and Clemmer led the way for the Wildcats, each contributing 10 kills, while Sarah Dorsey added 15 digs and Patterson 20 assists. For the Lee Ladies Scott led with six kills and Christian Durrett added 20 assists.

Rockbridge (9-8, 2-7) faces Fort Defiance on Thursday while Lee (3-14, 0-8) hosts Waynesboro on Tuesday.