Blues Split Matches

Parry McCluer Netters Beat Nelson, Fall To Amherst

The Parry McCluer High School volleyball team split a pair of matches last week, sweeping Nelson County in Buena Vista before falling to Amherst County on the road.

Thursday’s setback against the Lancers was the first defeat of the fall for PM, which wrapped up the second week of the season with a 3-1 record.

On Tuesday of last week, Kadence Zollman notched nine kills as the Fighting Blues bested the Governors 25-20, 25-16, 25-17. Keely Mahaffey tallied eight kills, nine assists and four service aces for PM, and Natalie Mohler contributed 16 assists, four kills and a pair of aces.

Lexi Robinson had 12 assists and three kills for Nelson, while Delanie Brown recorded five kills and two aces.

To capitalize on their personnel, the Blues are running a somewhat unconventional offense. Mahaffey and Mohler both play all six rotations, alternating between setter and hitter – sometimes within the same rally – based on their teammates’ passing and their own reads. Right now, the scheme seems to be working quite well.

“They’re switching on back and forth between them. They’re communicating really well,” PM head coach Jessie Moala said of the Blues’ setting duo. “I think they’re playing really, really smart volleyball – and figuring out the best time to play setter or to play hitter. It works out for them. I’ve just been really impressed with how they’ve really championed this offense.”

Clinging to a 19-18 edge in the opening frame, the Blues reeled off a 5-0 run – including two aces and a kill from Mahaffey – to secure the lead in the match.

After trailing 8-7 early in the second set, PM broke things open with a 9-2 spurt, going ahead 16-10 on a block from Mahaffey and Peira Conner. The Blues held off the Governors down the stretch to assume the 2-0 advantage.

A late third-set service run from Allie Cullen helped PM clinch the sweep. With the frame knotted up at 16-16, the Blues reeled off eight unanswered points – including two Cullen aces – to pull away.

Moala thought that her team’s performance improved as the match went along. “I felt like the end of the second set and the third set, we were really playing our game,” the PM coach said.

Cullen also added to the offense with five kills, while Emory Slagle notched four kills and two aces for the Blues. Ahlana Pullen had three kills and two blocks for the Governors.

The PM coach also praised the play of Cullen – who’s transitioned from defensive specialist to a six-rotation outside – and freshman Josie Martinez, who came in on the back row in Tuesday’s match.

“Allie has really stepped it up in the front row, making some really key plays,” Moala said. “Josie had some really good passing tonight. … I thought the younger players really stepped up.”

AC 3, PM 0

PM couldn’t keep its momentum going on the road two nights later, falling 3-0 to Amherst County on Thursday.

The Lancers (2-2) handed the Blues their first loss of the season, claiming a 25-15, 2522, 28-26 home victory.

Mahaffey notched nine kills, 10 digs, four blocks and five assists for PM, while Zollman totaled nine kills, nine digs and two blocks. Mohler added 11 assists and 11 digs, Cullen and Slagle recorded six digs apiece, and Conner posted a pair of blocks.

The Blues ultimately couldn’t recover from a sluggish start, but – given how close the final two sets turned out – they’re looking forward to facing Amherst again in Buena Vista next week.

“It was a rough night. We didn’t play our game until the third set,” Moala said. “We are eager for a rematch at home.”

PM was slated to visit Rockbridge County on Monday and to play host to Roanoke Catholic last night. The Blues will travel to Nelson on Thursday, and they’ll welcome in the Lancers on Monday, with junior varsity action beginning at 5:30 both evenings.