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Western volleyball edges Albemarle in five-game classic

Western Albemarle’s Olivia Nichols knew that Albemarle was trying to get in her head when the Patriots called a timeout just before she was getting ready to serve with a game on the line.

 

“I was a bit angry and I went right back out and didn’t really listen to what was happening in the timeout,” Nichols said. “I just went back out there because it was mental, what they were trying to do to me. That’s what I was really thinking about, I knew that it mattered right then and I was focused on helping my team.”

 

It was that kind of game all night for the Warriors as they fought tooth and nail for every point to hold off a determined Albemarle squad in the latest edition of one of the area’s best volleyball rivalries. Western managed to hang on for the 3-2 victory (25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11), the Warriors first victory in a five-game match this year. They lost a five-game clash earlier in the year to Powhatan.

 

“I feel so confident in our team chemistry that it’s just giving me a lot of confidence,” Nichols said. “It’s a great feeling just to be playing with everyone.”

 

Nichols, who has pledged to play volleyball next year for Sewanee, was a big reason why as she blasted 18 kills. An adjustment a couple of weeks back to hit high over the block is paying off for the senior hitter.

 

“About five matches ago I asked her to continue to do that,” said Western coach Ron Pack.

 

The approach created a handful of kills that simply skipped high off Albemarle’s block and fell out of bounds for a point. Nichols also chipped in two blocks and Western middle Courtney Berry also had a monster night with 17 kills and six blocks. Alema Atuaia put together a 12-kill night and threw in nine digs for good measure.

 

With the Warriors’ front line locked in, Albemarle’s defense had to step up to keep them in the game, and the Patriots’ defenders did that, with Victoria Bickley posting a career high 18 digs while Madison Warlick chipped in 13 digs of her own.

 

“I thought our serve/receive was really good for the first four sets,” said Albemarle coach Mark Ragland. “Overall I was really pleased with our passing.”

 

Western jumped out to a 1-0 lead but the tone was completely different than the squads’ first meeting where the Warriors rolled 3-0. This time, Albemarle was attacking and kept bouncing back from anything Western managed to throw at it. Emery Hawkins finished with a career high 18 kills while Warlick had 13 and Katie Schnell had eight. That front line effort gave Albemarle every chance to get the job done, but Western pulled away in game five to close out the match.

 

“We haven’t played like a typical Albemarle volleyball team and the girls are frustrated but you can’t only be frustrated, you’ve got to step up, you’ve got to play confident, you’ve got to be tough, you’ve got to go after it,” Ragland said. “Tonight we did and the girls said it felt more like a win and that’s because we went out and played Albemarle volleyball.”

 

For the Warriors, Andrea Vial registered 53 assists. Adriana Bland led the Warriors with 21 digs while Hailey McDaniel finished with nine kills.

 

Cassidy Wilson rounded out the offensive effort with six kills for the Warriors.

 

On Albemarle’s side, Sarah Hanssen led the Patriots with 44 assists. Western had to overcome Danielle LaRosa at the net where she had 12 blocks on the night to go with Gabbi DeGennaro’s six stuffs.

 

Both squads wrap up the regular season next week before jumping into conference tournament play.

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