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Albemarle volleyball gets on track, cruises over Monticello 3-1

 

With first place in the Jefferson District volleyball race on the line Tuesday night, Monticello and Albemarle came into Tuesday night’s match on short rest, having played the night before. Then the Mustangs took the first set by two points, just the second set in the last 44 that the Patriots have lost in Jefferson District play. 

 

“I have to hand it to Monticello,” said Albemarle coach Lance Rogers. “They came out strong and they came out after us.” 

 

But after that, Albemarle woke up. The Patriots reeled off three straight wins by double digits and beat the Mustangs 3-1 to stay unbeaten on the year at 8-0 and prolong the Patriots’ 49-game win streak in the Jefferson District.

 

Maya Winterhoff unleashed 29 kills (as well as 15 digs) for the Patriots while Keira Roach dished out a season-high 45 assists as the Albemarle offense shifted into another gear in the final three games.

 

“My sets were amazing and I kind of knew what spots were going to be open after watching them play yesterday,” said Winterhoff after the win. 

 

The game plan was simple for the Patriots coming out in the second set: get the ball to No. 11. Winterhoff was dominant, recording nine of her 29 kills in the second set, including five kills right at the beginning of the set to help Albemarle to a commanding 10-1 lead. 

 

Winterhoff added back-to-back aces and the Patriots cruised to a 25-14 win in the second set to even the match at 1-1. 

 

“We got a great performance out of her,” Rogers said. “I thought she was going to be tired from last night, but I think she really sucked it up and gave us a great performance tonight.”

 

In the beginning of the third set, Monticello kept things close behind more stellar play from Burnsed and Wilson. But, a backbreaking 13-4 run by the Patriots late in the set gave Albemarle a 2-1 advantage in the match. 

 

Winterhoff added several more kills in the third set and Sophia Dawson added three kills and an ace to help the Patriots take the third set. 

 

“If you figure out Maya, then you’ve got to figure out Sophia later,” said Rogers. “So it’s pick your poison as they say. She had a sore shoulder so we were a little worried about that but she came through for us today.” 

 

Dawson finished with 12 kills and five aces. 

 

Albemarle started the fourth set strong once again, quickly building a 12-4 lead after four more kills from Winterhoff early in the set. That lead would hold for the Patriots, who took the fourth set 25-12, and the match, three sets to one. 

 

A pair of kills from Monticello’s Olivia Davis set the tone for the Mustangs early on, who scored the first three points of the match and who led by as many as six points in the first set. Albemarle rallied, though, and stayed within a couple of points of Monticello late in the set. Adaire Burnsed came up clutch late in the first set for Monticello, recording multiple kills, including the set point to clinch the first set for the Mustangs. 

 

Franceszca Camaya notched 16 digs on the night. Dawson also had a strong night for the Patriots at the service line with 23 service points.

 

Up next, Albemarle will host Charlottesville on Wednesday night while the Mustangs will host Louisa Thursday night.

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