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The Parry McCluer High School volleyball team split its first two Pioneer District matches of the season, earning its first win of the year against Narrows before falling to Eastern Montgomery.
Last Tuesday, the Fighting Blues rolled past the Green Wave in straight sets on the road. Kadence Zollman totaled seven kills, one block, one ace and three digs to pace PM in the 25-8, 25-18, 25-20 victory.
“Tonight felt great to get a win,” PM head coach Jessie Moala said. “The girls have been working hard, and we were excited to see it pay off.”
Sydney Mahaffey added three kills, nine digs, two aces and a block for the Blues. Keely Mahaffey recorded nine assists and two kills, and Natalie Mohler finished with six assists, four digs and a pair of aces.
PM put together a solid performance all the way around: the Blues passed well from the back row, and Mohler and Keely Mahaffey were able to connect with multiple hitters.
“When you control the serve/ serve-receive battle, the wins will come,” Moala said. “We were happy to see our middles connecting with the setters. … In the tight moments, our girls were mentally tough.”
PM then dropped a 3-0 decision to the Mustangs (6-5, 1-1 Pioneer) in Elliston on Thursday evening, falling 25-22, 25-18, 25-4.
Zollman led the Blues with five kills and 13 digs, and Emory Slagle also finished with five kills. Tatyana Turner registered four aces and six digs, and Keely Mahaffey posted six assists, two kills and one block.
PM may have suffered a bit of a letdown after grabbing its first victory of the season two nights earlier.
“We came out complacent, and Eastern Montgomery took advantage of that,” Moala said. “Our passes weren’t as consistent as we needed them to be.”
The Blues were slated to take on Amherst County in Buena Vista on Monday. PM will play host to Pioneer foe Bath County on Thursday, starting with the junior varsity match at 5:30 p.m.
