Harry Howard Jr. / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
After going down in the first game, Fluvanna’s volleyball team rallied at home and won three straight sets to take down Western Albemarle 3-1.
“We just kept fighting I encourage them to take it ball by ball. Play that ball, and then let’s play the next one,” Fluvanna head coach Christi Harlowe-Garrett said. “One by one we were able to claw back out of some of those holes we got in”.
In the first game, Western Albemarle got out to a great start, taking a 9-3 lead. Fluvanna chipped into the lead and tied it at 10 before taking a 12-10 lead of their own. The Warriors quickly called a timeout to slow down the Flucos’ run. After the timeout the Warriors regained control tying the game at 14. Two blocks by senior Caitlyn Driver helped the Warriors secure the lead and the win in the first game 25-21.
Driver finished the contest with 6.5 blocks. Driver’s teammates Katie Carter and Brooke Sanchez each had 8 kills while Annabella Pandelli had a match-leading 28 assists.
With the first game in the rearview mirror, Fluvanna came out on fire in the second game and jumped out to a 6-0 lead. They went on to win the second game 25-16. Khania Brassfield and McKenzie Moore each had three kills in the second game for the Flucos to tie the match at one game apiece.
Brassfield and Moore controlled the net for Fluvanna, combining for 26 kills and four blocks.
“Tonight, was awesome being able to come back after being down,” Fluvanna sophomore Khania Brassfield said.
The third game had the exact opposite start of the previous one. The Warriors got back into a rhythm, going up 7-0 to start the game. They later led 21-14 before the Flucos stormed back to tie the game at 23 and eventually win the game 28-26.
“We usually get down on ourselves. But tonight, we kept working hard and supporting each other,” Brassfield said
Down a game, the Warriors refused to go away easily and took a 14-7 lead in the fourth game, but Western could not hold on once again. Fluvanna tied the game at 17 and did not fall behind again, winning the final game 25-23.
“I’m very proud of them Western has strong team with strong net play, they swing hard and block smart,” said coach Harlowe-Garret.
Both teams will be back on the floor Thursday. Western Albemarle will host Charlottesville and Fluvanna will play at Albemarle.
