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Blues Bounce Back Mohler Notches 500th Career Assist In Win Over Nelson
The Parry McCluer High School team scored a pair of 3-1 non-district victories last week, beating Roanoke Catholic at home on Tuesday and then downing Nelson County on Thursday evening.
The latter match featured the 500th career assist for senior setter Natalie Mohler.
Just 24 hours after suffering a road defeat to Rockbridge County on Monday, the Fighting Blues (5-2) bounced back with a 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17 win over the Celtics in Buena Vista.
Kadence Zollman tallied nine kills for PM, while Emory Slagle notched eight kills, seven digs and four service aces. Mohler and Keely Mahaffey each registered 11 assists and 10 digs for the Blues, with Mohler also serving up six aces, while Logan Vest paced the defense with 14 digs.
Justinne Llavore collected six kills and three aces for Roanoke Catholic (2-6). Addisen Greene finished with six kills and a pair of aces for the Celtics, and Cat Patterson totaled seven assists and three aces.
In addition to rebounding from a tough road loss to the Wildcats, PM head coach Jessie Moala wanted to see her team continue to build toward Pioneer District play, which starts tomorrow night at Narrows.
“I was talking to the girls, and I said, ‘We have to use tonight to get a practice in for districts,’” Moala said of the matchup with RC. “They had to use tonight to get back in [the right] mindset – swing back and prep some things that we needed to work on.”
The Celtics took control of a sloppy opening set – the teams combined for 16 service errors in the frame – with a 9-3 stretch that put the visitors ahead 19-13. RC held a commanding 24-17 lead before a late PM rally provided the final 25-22 scoreline.
But after that slow start, the Blues’ momentum seemed to carry over into the second stanza. Leading 12-9, PM zoomed away with a 9-0 run that featured kills from Mahaffey, Slagle and Peira Conner, and RC never threatened the rest of the way.
PM used a balanced offensive attack to claim the third set and the lead in the match. Six different players scored early as the Blues built up a 10-4 advantage, and the Celtics wouldn’t come any closer than four for the remainder of the frame.
Mahaffey tallied five assists and Mohler notched four in the set, as PM’s setter duo spread the ball around to multiple hitters. Zollman had four kills in the frame, which also featured three kills from Slagle and two apiece from Mahaffey and Allie Cullen.
“I thought a lot of the girls were on tonight in the second, third and fourth sets, which allowed our setters to be a lot more creative and free with where they put the ball,” Moala said.
The Blues then served their way to victory, racking up 12 aces with only one service error during the decisive fourth set. Four early aces from Mohler and three from Slagle helped PM craft a 12-3 advantage; after RC came roaring back to knot things up at 16-16, a long service run from Cullen – including four aces – helped the Blues clinch the frame and the match victory.
“When they’re on, we have a really consistent serving team,” Moala said. “That is really key to our offense, and it’s really helped us get points.”
Cullen finished with five aces to go along with four kills and nine digs, and Conner added seven digs, three aces and three blocks.
PM 3, NC 1
Mohler collected her 500th career assist as the Blues completed a season sweep of the Governors with a 3-1 victory in Lovingston on Thursday.
The senior setter, who entered the match with 499 assists, quickly reached the milestone as PM recorded a 25-15, 21-25, 25-14, 25-17 win. She finished the night with seven assists, four kills and three aces.
“She’s really grown as a leader and is taking charge on and off the court,” Moala said of Mohler.
Mahaffey registered five kills, six blocks, 10 assists and two aces for PM, while Slagle contributed four kills and eight aces. Zollman posted five kills and three blocks, Conner finished with four kills, three blocks and seven aces, and Vest added eight digs and four aces.
The Blues were slated to take on Amherst County at home on Monday. PM will travel to Narrows for the Pioneer District opener on Thursday, with junior varsity action beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the Blues will also compete in a tournament at James River High School on Saturday. PM will return to district action on Tuesday at Eastern Montgomery, starting with the JV match at 5:30 p.m.
