Waynesboro holds off Rockbridge

After taking the first two games with only a few minor hiccups, Waynesboro got a scare from Rockbridge County on Tuesday night in Game 3.

The Wildcats took a commanding 9-2 lead in the third game, and maintained the lead until a Rachel Binda kill put the Little Giants up 22-21. Waynesboro held on, halting the Rockbridge surge to pick up the Southern Valley match 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.

“I was really, really happy with the way we played and I’m proud of the team,” Binda said. “We pushed back when we were behind.”

Binda finished the night with 17 digs and 17 kills. Taylor DeWitt helped out with a season-high 37 assists. 

The win puts the Little Giants 3-2 in the Southern Valley District at the halfway point.

“Our district is very even, but for us to be over .500, I’m very pleased,” said Waynesboro coach Lori Aleshire.

In Game 1, the Little Giants struggled to shake the Wildcats early, but a three-point service run by Callie Owens that included an ace put Waynesboro up 10-5.

Waynesboro continued to spread its lead with a kill from Binda and a Jolie Dudly ace, putting the Giants up 18-9. The Little Giants never allowed Rockbridge back into the game and took a decisive 25-18 win.

In the second game, Rockbridge’s Hunter Pruett and Morgan Moore combined for a block that stole the momentum for the Little Giants. Rockbridge racked up the score to 6-1 in its favor before Katie Doyle hit one of her 12 kills to stop the run.

With Rachel Smith at the service line, the Little Giants rallied off five points, including a pair of aces, to take an 11-7 lead. Rockbridge was never able to claw back into the game, falling 25-21.

In the final game, Rockbridge took advantage of a tiring Waynesboro squad, opening the game 9-2. A Owens’ dink slowed the Wildcats down, but the Giants were never able to contend until they knotted the score at 17.

“We came out flat,” Aleshire said. “We weren’t being aggressive. We turned it around we played point-by-point and pushed their way back in it.”

Rockbridge took the lead again on a Katie Evans kill, but a line foul gave Waynesboro the sideout and stopped the Wildcats’ advance.

Waynesboro (9-4, 3-2) went on a 5-1 run that included three Binda kills to end the match.

The Little Giants take a break from District play on Thursday, hosting Broadway.

The Waynesboro JV team won its match against Rockbridge 25-18, 21-25, 15-13.