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Despite playing shorthanded, the Rockbridge County High School volleyball team started Valley District action with a 3-0 road win over Broadway on Thursday and improved to 9-1 overall.
The Wildcats were without senior setter and co-captain McKenzie Burch, who had suffered a minor injury. However, sophomore Maisen McKemy stepped in and helped the Wildcats capture a 25-17, 25-17, 25-21 victory over the Gobblers (4-5 overall, 0-1 district). McKemy, a first-year varsity player, led the Wildcats with 36 assists and recorded six digs and an ace.
RC head coach Kassidy Beagan said McKemy “delivered an exceptional performance.” Beagan said McKemy was able to step into the role of setter in a 5-1 offense, in which one setter is running the offense at all times. The RC coach said McKemy’s outing “was impressive and played a significant role in the team’s success.”
Senior hitter Maddie Dahl led the Wildcats with 14 kills, four blocks and five digs. Beagan said Dahl did a good job of “showcasing her offensive prowess and ability to find the gaps in the opponent’s defense. Her consistent attacking and ability to put away points greatly contributed to the team’s success in the match.”
Nala Shearer led RC with 18 digs and had two aces, while Sophie Vaught added eight kills, five digs and three aces. Rebekah Allen contributed 11 digs, and Sophia Perlozzo added six kills. Beagan praised Hayley Higgins for stepping up on defense and doing “a commendable job.” Higgins collected nine digs and served up three aces.
Pleased by her team’s performance, Beagan said, “Overall, despite the absence of the senior setter, the team displayed excellent teamwork and resilience.”
Beagan was confident that Burch would be back on the court this week.
The Wildcats were scheduled to start this week with home matches against Fort Defiance on Monday and against new district rival East Rockingham last night. RC will continue district action at Harrisonburg on Thursday before playing host to nondistrict rival Alleghany on Monday, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m. on both nights.
