By Stephen Smoot
Over the early weeks of the season, Pendleton County volleyball has worked to shake off the rust of the offseason, incorporate newcoming players with veterans, and overcome a key injury.
All of this reloading led merely to a number one ranking in West Virginia single A, according to Max Preps.
Last week, the Wildcats hosted Highland County, Virginia. The Rams made the trek north on US 220 to play the best the Mountain State had to offer in this division.
The Rams served first, with Brynlynn Waggy setting up Lizzie Alt for a shot to the middle of the defense and the initial score of the game. Highland tied the set at one, but then saw Alt spike it to the back right corner.
Baylee Beachler took over the serve with the score 2-1. Her second was a blistering line drive serve only a few inches above the net, and it caromed off the fist of a back line player. Beachler followed that up with a similar ace. In eight games, including the Highland contest, she has racked up an impressive 31 aces.
The Rams tried to stay with the Wildcats and succeeded for a time. After Emily Poling set up Avery Townsend for a spike that pushed the lead to 8-5, Highland scored two to come within one.
After slicing the lead for an 8-7 score, another Townsend spike gave her squad a two point lead. From here until the end of the set, the Rams could only muster four points. Poling closed the set by firing an ace for the final point.
Alyssa Bennett kicked off the second set for Pendleton County, driving her serve to the middle of the defense for an ace. Waggy, as she did at the start of the first set, gave Alt a perfect set to spike on the Rams.
Alt had 15 kills in the first game against Moorefield alone and 65 total for the season, making her and Beachler a dominant duo with a strong set of players around them who bring great effort and high volleyball IQ.
Highland saw Pendleton County pull away from the very start. The Wildcats started with an 11 to one run that gave them a commanding lead. Beachler took the serve with the score at 7-1 and proceeded to pick up four straight aces.
Shortly after, Callie Judy stepped in to serve. New to the varsity this season, she has come off the bench to give solid play on the backline, as well as consistently strong serving. She fired six serves, including two aces. When her service closed, her team had built an 18-3 lead.
Alt took over the serve not long after and drove the ball to two aces herself. The final point came off an Emma Hartman serve as Waggy set up for a Beachler spike.
Highland tied the third set at three, but a Poling ace put her team ahead. After the Rams again tied the score, Poling set up Townsend for a tap to the middle of the floor and a 5-4 advantage. The Wildcats then ran off eight straight. Poling twice set up Townsend for scoring shots and also scored three aces in the run.
Aubree Keiter also showed hustle as she scampered after balls hit to the back, getting the ball in position for the setters to work. As the Wildcats pulled away in their winning set, Breena Bowers, Hartman, Bennett, and Poling all scored aces. The final set ended when Highland got the serve, but promptly fired it into the net to give the Wildcats their 25th point and the victory.
On Tuesday, the Wildcats hosted the Bulldogs from Tygarts Valley. Today, they face the East Hardy Cougars at Baker, and then the varsity squad travels Sept. 24 for matches against Tygarts Valley and Notre Dame.
