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continued from page A9 rible, but it was inconsistent,” over the first three sets, Beagan said. “Once we got that part of the game under control – and started looking across the net and seeing what was working and what wasn’t working – I think they did a great job of adjusting and executing.”
RC put the pieces together in a dominant fourth set, which saw the Wildcats reel off an astounding – and decisive – 16-0 run with Shearer behind the service line. Dahl came to life in the stanza, notching six kills and both of her blocks to help RC extend the match.
The ’Cats built up a 9-5 lead in the final set, but Fort answered with a 4-0 spurt. The teams then traded seven straight sideouts before Dahl and Vaught came up with huge swings on consecutive points to make it 14-12. Vaught then finished off the match with her 22nd kill.
Sophia Perlozzo chipped in 12 kills for the Wildcats, and Rebekah Allen tallied 21 digs. Shreckhise finished with 13 kills for Fort, and Savannah Crookshanks recorded five kills.
RC is perfect in best-of-five matches this season, as the Wildcats’ only blemish was a 2-1 setback against Liberty Christian Academy in a tournament at Fluvanna County on Aug. 26. And though the ’Cats were pushed to five by a talented Fort squad, Beagan’s team responded well to the challenge – and maybe learned a lesson along the way.
“I think realizing that we do have to work hard – we didn’t get there until late in the second set,” the second-year RC coach said. “Just realizing that and doing it was what we needed to figure out.”
RC returned to its home court just 24 hours later, breezing to a 2520, 25-17, 25-20 victory over East Rockingham in a Valley matchup last Tuesday.
Vaught again paced the Wildcat offense, totaling 12 kills while also recording three blocks. Burch stuffed the stat line with 24 assists, 10 digs, three blocks and four kills.
Dahl posted seven blocks in the match, adding four kills and six digs, while Shearer registered 19 digs. Jada Hamilton and Mackenzie McCormick contributed at the net with three blocks apiece.
RC also served up nine aces against the Eagles (7-5, 1-2 Valley), getting two each from Burch, Dahl, Shearer and Vaught.
RC 3, Harrisonburg 0
The Wildcats posted another Valley District sweep on Thursday, rolling past Harrisonburg 3-0 on the road.
Dahl recorded 10 kills, three blocks and three aces to lead RC to a 25-11, 25-11, 25-13 win over the Blue Streaks (6-3, 0-2). Burch notched a double-double, tallying 32 assists and 10 digs while chipping in four kills.
Shearer paced the defense with 22 digs, and the senior libero served up a match-high six aces. Perlozzo notched eight kills, Geneva Snyder added seven kills and two blocks, and Vaught finished with six kills.
RC was slated to take on Alleghany in Lexington on Monday. The Wildcats will return to Valley District play with a key home match against Spotswood on Thursday, beginning with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
