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Tuesday, Aug. 22 -- The Rockbridge County High School volleyball team recorded a 3-0 victory over Parry McCluer in the season opener for both squads in Buena Vista.
Maddie Dahl tallied eight kills, nine aces and 11 digs to lead the Wildcats to a 25-11, 25-22, 25-15 win. Sophia Perlozzo chipped in six kills and four aces for RC, while McKenzie Burch registered 17 assists and five kills.
Tatyana Turner paced the Fighting Blues' offense with five kills, and Kadence Zollman notched three blocks and six digs.
The Wildcats already held an 18-11 lead in the first frame when Dahl caught fire behind the service line, reeling off seven consecutive aces to close out the set.
A tight second set featured 11 ties and three lead changes. Turner had three of her kills in the stanza, and the Blues' blocking game came to life: PM totaled four team blocks in the set, including all three of Zollman's markers and a pair of assisted blocks from Keely Mahaffey.
The Blues led 12-11 on a Turner kill, and the set was tied at 21-21 late. But RC tallied four of the last five points, getting key kills from Burch and Dahl and an ace from Perlozzo to close things out.
A balanced attack propelled the Wildcats in the final set. Five different RC players had multiple kills in the frame, including three apiece from Dahl, Burch, Perlozzo and Jada Hamilton.
Nala Shearer paced the Wildcats' defense with 15 digs, and Maisen McKemy posted 11 assists. Sophie Vaught finished with five kills and three aces, while Hamilton and Mackenzie McCormick totaled two blocks apiece.
Sydney Mahaffey had three kills and six digs for PM, and Logan Vest also recorded six digs.
Both teams return to action on Thursday, as the Wildcats head to Fort Defiance and the Blues visit Alleghany. PM and RC will meet again in Lexington next Tuesday, Aug. 29, beginning with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
