The Lady Cougar volleyball program welcomed the Cave Spring Knights to the Cougar Den Tuesday. Despite a great effort, the Pulaski County JV and varsity both fell in their matches.
In the junior varsity contest, the Knights won in two sets, 25-20 and 25-23. Emma Sarver recorded three kills, one block, two aces, and eight points serving. Lylah Minnick earned three kills, five digs, and four points serving. Gracie Sarver had 15 digs. Ellie MacDonald had three kills and four points of serving. Kyrsten Keith recorded four kills, one ace, and three serving points.
“Our girls played a well-polished Cave Spring team tonight,” JV Head Coach Duane Minnick said. “I believe that we were the better team, but we failed to execute in our serve/receive game and we let too many balls fall to the floor. We kept it close with Cave, but once we fix the small details these girls can beat any team we face this year. There are so many positive things we have been doing and when it all comes together, we will be a force to be reckoned with.”
The varsity contest was also a tight one, with the Lady Cougars winning the first set 25-21. The Knights rebounded, winning the next three sets 29-9, 25-23, and 25-19. Mekenna Yates recorded 10 digs. Bethany Lester had five digs. Leah Keefer had four blocks, one ace, and eight digs. Hannah Keefer recorded 10 kills, seven blocks, four aces, and 10 digs. Madolyn Legg had four kills, three blocks, and six digs. Maggie Shartzer recorded 15 digs.
“As a team we are showing some really good things and glimpses of just how good our team can be,” Head Coach Kaylee Conner said. “We are just needing all of the good things we keep showing in our matches to connect and be shown all together consistently. When that happens, I am confident the team I know … our team … can and will shine.”
The Lady Cougars are scheduled to be back on the road Thursday with a matchup in Blacksburg. Monday, September 11, the team will host Floyd County. Tuesday, the Lady Cougars will host Hidden Valley. Their final match of next week will be on the road in Roanoke against Patrick Henry on Thursday. JV action is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. each night with the varsity contest following.