Wilson fall to Lee

STAUNTON — Playing in front of a charged up crowd on senior night, the Robert E. Lee volleyball team downed Wilson Memorial in three games 25-11, 25-19, 26-24 in a match-up of two teams jockeying for position in next week’s Southern Valley District tournament.

The Lee Ladies were able to end the regular season on a high note thanks in large part to senior hitter Kendra Scott, who took over the game at the net with an intimidating style of play that, if continued next week, could carry her team deep into the tournament.

“I’ve been telling her all year that she is the one that we can win with,” Lee coach Ruth Shaia said after the game. “She is just going after it a little harder right now and it is paying off.”

Scott got Lee off to a quick start in Game 1 with two kills and two blocks, helping her team jump out to an early 12-7 lead. Seven straight service points from Clarissa Swanerbury, including an ace, along with two more kills from Scott stretched the Lee lead that they rode to a 25-11 victory.

Victoria Williams helped push Lee out to an 14-9 lead with five straight service points, breaking a 9-9 tie. Scott made sure that lead would hold as she added five kills over her teams next 11 points, guiding Lee to 25-19 win.

Wilson Memorial continued to inch closer to Lee in an exciting third game that featured six lead changes and numerous hustle plays. The Hornets went up 22-18 after five service points from Jessi Fitzgerald, but Lee would rally to take a 24-23 lead behind back-to-back aces from Swanerbury and they would go onto a 26-24 win giving the seniors a night to remember.

“It feels really great to win tonight as we head into the district tournament,” Kendra Scott said. “And if means even more that it was on senior night.”

Scott led Lee with 14 kills and four blocks and Clarissa Swanerbury had a game-high 17 service points, including seven aces.

Lee also won the J.V game 25-15, 12-25, 15-10. Jacqueline Stevenson was the team’s leading server. Alicia Gleaves added four kills and Jasemine Johnson had three assists.