A busy week of volleyball saw the Knights play three matches in three days. The week started with western Greenbrier at home. The match offered an opportunity for the two teams to play grade level matches vs. Varsity and JV matches.
Western Greenbrier got on the board first, taking the 6th grade match in two sets (16-25) (18-25). The 6th grade Knights were led in kills by Kamari Walton and Campbell Bundy. Leading in assists was Sydney Norman. Sydney Norman and Aryn Cleghon led in serving, and Campbell Bund and Lyla Smith led team in passing. The 7th grade match got the Knights on track beating Western (25-15) (25-17). MacKenna McClure led in kills as well as serves with 5 aces. Maddie Podsiadlik, Norah Ambler and Kate Lehman were also strong behind the line. Assists were a group effort with McClure, Podsiadlik, Ambler, Lehman, Laney Depriest and Emily McClure with one or more each. All seven players contributed nicely in the passing game.
The nightcap 8th grade game saw a well contested match between the two schools, with Eastern coming out on top in three sets (25-15) (14-25) (25-21). Mollie Pack led the team in kills and serving with five aces. Passing was spread out amongst the players with Pack, Ervin, Workman, Byars, and Jacobs leading the team. Other players having a nice night at the net were Groves, Workman, Byars, Simmons, and Wellman. Workman and Byars had four blocks, and assists were lead by Byars and Wellman. The Knights will end their season in a couple weeks playing the same format at Western Greenbrier.
On Tuesday the Knights made the long trip south on 219 to play Peterstown Middle. The JV started strong in the first set, only to find themselves losing the second set and battling back to win a highly contested 3rd set (25-21) (14-25) (25-16). Mackenna McClure led the way in kills and assists. Norah Ambler and Maddie Podsiadlik also contributed three assists a piece. The team saw 12 aces from the serving line. The leading server was Norah Ambler, followed by Emily McClure, MacKenna McClure, and Maddie Podsiadlik. Filling the state sheet in passing were MacKenna and Emily McClure, Norah Ambler, Maddie Podsiadlik, Trinity Perkins, Kate Lehman, and Campbell Bundy.
The Varsity Knights took the Pirates in two sets (25-13) (25-15). They were led in kills by Haley Workman followed close by Mollie Pack, Haley Byars, Jenna Groves and Hailey Ervin. Assists were spread out with Haley Byars leading the way with 10. Hailey Ervin, Haley Workman and Natilee Wellman each had seven and Jenna Grove had five. Serving leader was Mollie Pack including five aces, along with Natilee Wellman, Ally Martin, Haley Byars and Aundraya Simmons. Hailey Ervin, Haley Workman and Natilee Wellman led the way in passing.
The Knights concluded the week against the other Monroe County Middle School, Mt. View. The JV came up short in a close three set match (25-19) (22-25) (13-25). Leading the way in hitting was MacKenna McClure with 5 kills followed by Norah Ambler and Trinity Perkins with 4 each. Serving leader was Maddie Podsiadlik, with Ambler, Perkins, Emily McClure and Campbell Bundy close behind. Varsity finished the week with their third win in as many days. Beating the Hawks in two sets (25-12) (25-9). Haley Workman was leading hitter on the night with seven kills. Aundraya Simmons and Jenna Groves had six, and Mollie Pack had five. Hailey Ervin had an impressive 14 assists followed by Haley Byars with seven and Natilee Wellman with five. Hailey Ervin also filled the state sheet in serves with nine points, five of which were aces. Natilee Wellman and Haley Byars had eight and six points, and Mollie Pack contributed three aces. Pack led in passing with eight digs, while Haley Byars and Ally Martin each had seven. The week improved the Varsity overall record to 6-3 and JV to 5-4.
After a busy week the Knights only have one scheduled game this week on the road at Independence.