The Knights finished their volleyball season on winning notes, taking the final two matches of the season for both JV and Varsity. Coach Dawn McClure said, “I hate to see it end. With volleyball having one of the shortest seasons, it always seems that the team is just reaching their peak and it’s time for it to be over. I’ve been pleased with many of the player’s individual improvements. I’m just happy we got to play as many matches as we did.”
Varsity finished the season with an overall record of 10-5 and JV overall was 8-5.
The first match of the week the Knights traveled to Western Greenbrier. The Timberwolves came out strong, taking the first set in the JV match (8-25). The Knights settled in and took the next two sets to secure the win (25-19)(25-15). Mackenna McClure led the way with 7 kills, Norah Ambler close behind with 6, Kate Lehman had 4 and Ciara Sheppard had 2. Assists were a group effort. Maddie Podsiadlik led in assists with 5, Kate Lehman with 4, and Mackenna McClure, Nora Ambler, Emily McClure with 3 each, Laney Depriest and Aryn Cleghon had 1. Maddie Podsiadlik had another nice night at the serving line leading with 8 serves and 3 aces. Emily McClure had 7 serves and 1 ace, Norah Ambler had 6 serves and 1 ace, and Kate Lehman had 5 serves. The digs were a team effort with everyone contributing. Kate Lehman made an exceptional hustle dig, running towards the stand and making a one-handed pass to keep the ball in play.
Varsity won in two highly contested sets (25-15)(25-23). It was a team effort at the net with Mollie Pack and Haley Workman having double digit kills, Jenna Groves with 8, Haley Byars 7, Aundraya Simmons 6, Natilee Wellman 5, Hailey Ervin 3, and Karma Jacobs 1. Assists were evenly spread across the team. Hailey Ervin led the way with 10. Serving leaders were Mollie Pack with 9 and 2 aces, Allyson Martin with 12 in and Hailey Ervin with 6 in and 3 aces. Passing leaders included Karma Jacobs, Hailey Ervin, Haley Workman, Haley Byars, Mollie Pack, and Allyson Martin. Haley Byars added a great hustle play and block.
The final match of the season had the Knights traveling to Greater Beckley Christian. JV winning in two sets (25-20)(25-16). Mackenna McClure had 3 kills to lead the team, with Norah Ambler, Laney Depreist and Sydney Norman with 1 each. Trinity Perkins and Emily McClure each had 3 assists. Kate Lehman had a big night serving with 6 serves in play and 4 aces, Maddie Podsiadlik and Mackenna McClure each had 6 serves and 1 ace each. Passing was spread across the board with Mackenna McClure, Norah Ambler, Maddie Podsiadlik, Kate Lehman, Sydney Norman, Kamari Walton, and Lyla Smith all having 3 or more digs on the night.
Varsity followed suite taking the Crusaders in two sets as well (25-22)(26-24). Leaders at the net were Mollie Pack, Haley Workman, Aundraya Simmons and Jenna Groves combining for over 20 kills on the night. Assists were a group effort. Hailey Ervin led with Haley Byars, Natilee Wellman, Aundraya Simmons and Mollie Pack all contributing 3 or more each. Allyson Martin and Haley Byars led the team in passing. Hailey Ervin broke out her jump serve, proving to be difficult for the Crusaders to return, ending in 5 aces. Allyson Martin had a nice net with 7 serves in play and Haley Byars with 8 serves in play and 3 aces. In the end it was Jenna Groves at the line that would ice the game, bringing the Knights back from 5 down. Aundraya Simmons put the last ball down on the final kill of the 2020 season.
The teams would like to thank their coaches for their tireless effort to make them better players throughout the season- Coaches Dawn McClure, Karla Workman, and Jen Ervin.