The last time Fluvanna County beat Western Albemarle in volleyball, we didn’t have a Department of Homeland Security, Fox’s American Idol had only produced one winner (Kelly Clarkson), and the world had only seen two Harry Potter movies (now there are eight).
That 11-year wait is over. Tuesday night in Crozet, the Flucos made quick work of the Warriors, rolling 3-0 past Western with game wins of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-15.
The win pushes Fluvanna to 15-3 overall and 6-1 in the Jefferson District with a clash with Albemarle looming later this week.
“To see them come in here and break that — it was nice to see them follow through and be able to finish,” said Fluvanna coach Christi Harlowe-Garrett.
Harlowe-Garrett was in her second year as the Flucos’ leader the last time Fluvanna beat the Warriors. Now more than a decade later and after coming close numerous times (including losing in five games to the Warriors at least five times over that span), Fluvanna has knocked the monkey off their back.
“Anybody that watched that match saw that they wanted it more than we did and they had more firepower than we did,” said Western coach Ron Pack.
The Flucos’ intensity was certainly a big part of the equation, and Fluvanna’s one-two punch of Maddy Kline and Emily Haden at the net had a big impact too. Both standouts posted balanced games with Haden notching 13 kills and 10 digs while Kline finished with 11 kills and 12 digs, particularly impressive outings considering the speed of the match. The Flucos just feeding the tandem, with Haden providing kills in particularly key spots while giving Western fits with her compact swing that puts the ball on the floor fast.
“She did a great job…you saw their passion on the court, they were into it, they were having fun, and they tend to succeed when they do that,” said Harlowe-Garrett. “.”
Fluvanna’s team defense, with Haden and Kline posting double digit digs and Kylee Dixon chipping in with another 11 also boosted the Flucos’ efforts as they built solid leads with fundamentally sound play in that department.
“It’s still a work in progress but it’s getting better,” said Harlowe-Garrett.
Leslie Walters rounded out the bulk of the offensive production with seven kills while setter Katie Stutz ignited the offense with 31 assists.
Ali Sandridge finished with 10 kills and 13 digs while Kelsey Grove chipped in with six kills on the night to go with her five digs. Grove, a sophomore, continues to improve dramatically each game.
“She’s a much better player than she thinks she is,” Pack said. “Once she gains that confidence she will definitely pick her game up.”
Devon Via and Maggie Spindel finished with five kills each.
Western starts the second half of the Jefferson District slate Thursday with a road trip to Orange while the Flucos take on Albemarle in a showdown of the district’s top two squads the same night.
