Watauga volleyball team sweeps Avery
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com
NEWLAND - Watauga's volleyball team made it three straight victories with a 3-0 win over Avery Monday night.
The Pioneers won the first set 25-11 and then rolled to 25-19, 25-12 victories. Watauga improved to 6-1 overall and has won three straight matches since a 3-2 setback to Mount Tabor last Thursday.
"We played very well today," Pioneers coach Kris Hagaman said. "The girls were ready to play and they showed it. We played better all around."
Watauga took big leads in each of its three sets against Avery. The Pioneers claimed a 16-4 lead in the first set and was never seriously challenged in the first set. Brooke Rhodes, who finished the match with nine kills and three blocks defensively, served up four straight points that gave Watauga a 22-8 lead in the first game.
Watauga took a 19-12 lead in the second game, but the Vikings challenged that lead by closing to within 21-18 after scoring five straight points. Leading 23-19, Watauga got a double-block from Colby Combs and Channing Hagaman followed by a serving ace from Bailey Hagaman to secure the win.
The Pioneers started quickly in the third set by taking an 8-2 lead. Watauga went up 24-12 before a backwards tap by Bailey Hagaman provided the final point of the match.
Bailey Hagaman dished out 33 assists for the Pioneers. Hannah Stewart led the offense with 14 kills and chipped in four blocks defensively.
Channing Hagaman added nine kills and Combs had seven kills on offense, while Caroline Yates, Skylar Hicks and Ashlyn VanDyke all had seven digs.
Watauga hosts Mitchell on Tuesday and pays at McDowell on Wednesday.
WHS jayvees 2, Avery 0
NEWLAND - Watauga's jayvee team stayed unbeaten, but had to struggle a bit do stay that way. The Pioneers slipped past Avery 26-24 in the first game and followed with a 25-9 win in the second.
Whitney Dunnigan led the Watauga offense with five kills, while Alyson Branch had four. Kylie McCoury served up 11 points, including four aces. Kristen Carter dished out nine assists.
Defensively, Watauga (5-0) got four digs from Dunnigan.
Watauga could never pull away from Avery in the first set. The Pioneers actually trailed 16-14 at one point before pulling back to 17-17. The Pioneers finally got the winning points on a serving error by Avery and when the Vikings could not return Meredith Farthing's serve.
Avery was able stay close to Watauga in the second game by trailing 6-5 before the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run and claimed a 13-5 lead that was never challenged. Carter served the final five points of the game.
sports@wataugademocrat.com
NEWLAND - Watauga's volleyball team made it three straight victories with a 3-0 win over Avery Monday night.
The Pioneers won the first set 25-11 and then rolled to 25-19, 25-12 victories. Watauga improved to 6-1 overall and has won three straight matches since a 3-2 setback to Mount Tabor last Thursday.
"We played very well today," Pioneers coach Kris Hagaman said. "The girls were ready to play and they showed it. We played better all around."
Watauga took big leads in each of its three sets against Avery. The Pioneers claimed a 16-4 lead in the first set and was never seriously challenged in the first set. Brooke Rhodes, who finished the match with nine kills and three blocks defensively, served up four straight points that gave Watauga a 22-8 lead in the first game.
Watauga took a 19-12 lead in the second game, but the Vikings challenged that lead by closing to within 21-18 after scoring five straight points. Leading 23-19, Watauga got a double-block from Colby Combs and Channing Hagaman followed by a serving ace from Bailey Hagaman to secure the win.
The Pioneers started quickly in the third set by taking an 8-2 lead. Watauga went up 24-12 before a backwards tap by Bailey Hagaman provided the final point of the match.
Bailey Hagaman dished out 33 assists for the Pioneers. Hannah Stewart led the offense with 14 kills and chipped in four blocks defensively.
Channing Hagaman added nine kills and Combs had seven kills on offense, while Caroline Yates, Skylar Hicks and Ashlyn VanDyke all had seven digs.
Watauga hosts Mitchell on Tuesday and pays at McDowell on Wednesday.
WHS jayvees 2, Avery 0
NEWLAND - Watauga's jayvee team stayed unbeaten, but had to struggle a bit do stay that way. The Pioneers slipped past Avery 26-24 in the first game and followed with a 25-9 win in the second.
Whitney Dunnigan led the Watauga offense with five kills, while Alyson Branch had four. Kylie McCoury served up 11 points, including four aces. Kristen Carter dished out nine assists.
Defensively, Watauga (5-0) got four digs from Dunnigan.
Watauga could never pull away from Avery in the first set. The Pioneers actually trailed 16-14 at one point before pulling back to 17-17. The Pioneers finally got the winning points on a serving error by Avery and when the Vikings could not return Meredith Farthing's serve.
Avery was able stay close to Watauga in the second game by trailing 6-5 before the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run and claimed a 13-5 lead that was never challenged. Carter served the final five points of the game.