Western Albemarle’s volleyball squad graduated a pack of seniors last season and knew they’d need some new faces to step up. If Tuesday night was any indication that process is coming along nicely as the Warriors swept Monticello 3-0, winning 25-12, 25-21 and 25-19.
“We’re starting to gel as a group,” Pack said. “We don’t have that many players with a lot of varsity experience. We’ve got a couple of seniors who transferred in. We don’t have that much varsity experience.”
Those transfers, Ellie Bright and Alema Atuaia, were big factors against the Mustangs, with Bright coming up with five digs while Atuaia notched three aces. Atuaia hits a heavy ball and gives the Warriors another options on the outside.
“She’s also a big weapon just with her energy on the court,” Western senior Courtney Berry said. “She brings a lot of positive and intense energy on the court.”
Berry is one of the few holdovers from last year’s lineup along with Olivia Nichols and Berry had a strong night with 11 kills. Berry is tough to contend with in the middle, particularly when she and the Warriors’ setters get into a groove.
“Tonight they were single blocking her and we took advantage of that,” Pack said. “We told our setters as long as they’re single blocking Courtney we’re going to go to her.”
The Warriors had run into Monticello in a tournament setting already once this season and it was clear just in game two that the Mustangs are making strides. Monticello nearly stole that game before falling 25-21.
“This team is a lot different than when we saw (Western) last,” said Monticello coach Meg Carpenter. “They’re working for it.”
With just a handful of seniors and a lot of sophomores and juniors playing major roles for the first time, Monticello battled the entire night against the Warriors, with sophomore Allie Cognata’s five kills leading the way.
“It’s definitely impressive because they’re such a young team,” Carpenter said. “Young to varsity in many ways so the fact that they can carry a fight from beginning to end says a lot about their mental strength.”
Senior setter Morgan Marshall finished with eight assists while Maysha Brock notched three kills and three blocks. Sophomore setter Jewell Pugh led the Mustangs with nine assists and Mariah Brown finished with four kills. Ellie Quick chipped in three blocks in the middle.
Western’s setters, Andrea Vial and Abby Boitnott had 11 and 10 assists respectively while Nichols chipped in a strong seven kills and five digs, flashing a solid all-around game. Hailey McDaniel came up with three aces for the Warriors.
The Warriors host a critical matchup Thursday with Powhatan at home while Monticello hosts Charlottesville the same night.
