For three years now, Albemarle volleyball’s Maddie Walters has served as the backup to the engine that powers the Patriots’ offense, setter Jessie Block. Playing behind the school’s all-time assists leader who happens to be in your class has made playing time hard to come by.
That’s never slowed down Walters.
“Whenever we need her to run the scout defense in practice she’s been running it to perfection,” said Albemarle coach Mark Ragland. “She’s made our hitters work real hard, she has a great attitude and she’s always a pleasure to be around. She’s just one of those team-first players that a coach loves to have around.”
She’s also got some game too, a testament to Albemarle’s depth. Thursday night on senior night as Albemarle cruised to a 3-0 victory over Brooke Point, Walters played throughout as the Patriots moved to 23-0 on the year.
“It was super exciting because normally I sub or play half games,” Walters said. “But this time I actually got to play all the game and I got to feel all the momentum. All the energy was just there.”
Even better, Walters exploded for two aces and 16 service points — one of coach Mark Ragland’s favorite statistical measures — topping a previous career high of 14.
“It was 16?,” Walters said. “I wasn’t really keeping track of it because if I think about it I end up getting really nervous but I didn’t realize it was 16.”
Walters wasn’t the only senior who saw extended playing time and contributed in a big way against the Black-Hawks. Colleen Marshal, who’s seen more action lately with the injury to Michaela Malboeuf, led Albemarle with nine kills on the night. Sydnie Kostelac notched a pair of blocks.
“(Marshal) played all the way around and she has not been playing all the way around and Sydnie Kostelac is our third middle so she hadn’t played a whole lot,” Ragland said. “For them to beat a team that’s got some swingers over there I’m sure that’s very special to them.”
The Patriots also got critical contributions from the usual suspects in that class of seniors — Block had 24 assists, Savannah Morse had eight kills and three aces and Caroline Porco had 10 digs. The underclassmen weren’t taking the night off either. Sarah Woods led Albemarle in blocks with five and chipped in seven kills.
Albemarle was in near perfect sync from the start, rolling 25-14, 25-16 and 25-6 over the Back-Hawks.
The win sets up Albemarle for a clash with Colonial Forge on the road Tuesday with some significant implications. If the Patriots win, they take the Commonwealth District title outright. A loss would force a one-game playoff for the CD title and the automatic Northwest Region tournament berth that comes with it.
