Waynesboro sweeps Lee

STAUNTON— The Waynesboro volleyball team continued its late-season surge Tuesday by defeating Robert E. Lee in three games 25-9, 27-25, 25-19. Despite a solid effort from the Lee Ladies, Waynesboro combined effort and execution to garner the sweep while building confidence as the postseason draws near.

“It was a complete team effort tonight,” Waynesboro coach Lori Aleshire said. “Everyone played in the game tonight and that is the only reason that we have come this far. They work extremely hard in practice and it translates over in the games.”

Waynesboro currently holds the Southern Valley District’s No. 2 seed and will host No. 1 Fort Defiance on Thursday. The Indians clinched the district on Tuesday. If Waynesboro wins on Thursday, it will get a first-round bye in the Southern Valley District Tournament that begins on Monday.

It is also very helpful to be able to mix in the reigning district player of the year, Rachel Binda, with that total team effort. Binda made another case why she should take that award home again, with a dominating performance against Lee totaling 17 kills, four blocks and fifteen digs. As always, Binda was quick to deflect the attention to her teammates and to what lies ahead for the Lady Giants.

“We just worked together really well tonight,” Binda said. “We are playing smarter and at the same time we are playing more aggressively. We are excited about what is ahead for us.”

Jolie Dudley helped Waynesboro get out to an early lead in Game 1 with eight straight service points giving the Little Giants a 13-5 lead that they would ride to a 25-9 victory.

Game 2 was much more competitive as Lee was carried by the heavy-hitting of Kendra Scott to a 10-7 lead. Waynesboro answered with an 11-2 run and seemed ready to put the game away but Lee would not go quietly. The Lee Ladies went on a 7-1 run of their own to tie the game at 19. The teams would be tied again at 25, but kills from Jonquill Brown and Binda gave Waynesboro the victory.

Lee played Waynesboro tough in the third game as well trailing 13-12 after a big kill from Scott, but the Little Giants opened the game up via four straight service points from Taylor Dewitt and won Game 3, 25-19, for the sweep.

Jolie Dudley had 17 service points for Waynesboro. Taylor Dewitt added 25 assists and Toya Diggs had 15 digs for the Little Giants who host Fort on senior night Thursday.

Waynesboro also won the J.V. match in three games 19-25, 25-17, 15-9.  Logan Graves paced the team with 21 points, including six aces.