Quite suddenly, Albemarle volleyball has found its stride. While the Patriots have once again put together a strong season, they’d struggled in the first half of the year against elite Jefferson District opponents like Western and Powhatan.
But after taking Western to five games in Crozet last week, the Patriots exploded against the Indians on the road Tuesday, sweeping Powhatan 3-0 to hand the Indians their first district loss of the year.
Albemarle won 25-20, 25-23 and 25-12, making short work of the top squad in the district in set three.
Emery Hawkins continued her tear at the net with 15 kills while Madison Warlick put together an 11-kill night (also had 11 digs) and Gabbi DeGennaro notched eight of her own.
Katie Schnell finished with three aces and Bridget Pinnata led Patriots’ back line with 12 digs.
Sarah Hanssen triggered the Albemarle attack with 46 assists, paced the squad in aces with four on the night and chipped in nine digs. Hanssen has also recently made a move up the Albemarle program’s record books. She’s in the midst of the seventh-best season in program history with 604 assists to date and in eighth place all-time with 836 assists. She’s also now ninth in career aces.
The Patriots hit the road to take on Fluvanna Thursday in their final regular season match.
