Lynchburg-Clay sweeps county rival Fairfield in 3 sets
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — Following a night where they lost in five sets, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs volleyball team returned to the court and gained a three-set Southern Hills Athletic Conference win on Thursday, defeating host Fairfield.
The Lady Mustangs, who are 12-5 overall, won by scores of 25-11, 25-18 and 25-19 to seal the SHAC victory.
Gaining the conference win began with LC winning by 14 points in the opening set, though it was tied very early on at 1-1 and 2-2. From there, though, LC never trailed for the remainder of the set.
Once FHS tied the score at 2-2 off a spike from Hannah Putnam, LC responded with an ace from Brittany Ernst, a kill by Shelby Marshall, then later another point by Marshall for a 6-3 lead. The score stayed close early on as FHS got to within an 8-6 score off a kill from Blake Adams and a play at the net by Ciara Knisley.
The Lady Mustangs came back strong with serves by Hannah Morgan to eventually build a 12-6 lead in the first set. Following a timeout by the Lady Lions, LC eventually worked to double the score of their opponent at 20-10. LC continued to hold the lead and ended the opening set with a kill from Marshall for the 25-11 score.
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Fairfield and Lynchburg-Clay were tied nine times in the second set, though the Lady Mustangs led early on by a 3-0 score off serves from Tylar Griffith, including an ace for the third point.
Knisley scored the first FHS point of the second set, but LC responded with a kill by Marshall and a hit at the net from Abby Blankenship for a 5-1 advantage.
As the second set continued, Brianna Barnes scored a point to make it a 6-4 deficit for the Lady Lions, and eventually FHS rallied to tie the score at 8-8, then at 9-9. FHS took a 10-9 lead off a hit at the net from Knisley, but LC regained the tied score at 10-10 and then took a 11-10 lead.
The score was then tied at 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, including in that span an ace by Lauren Arnold and a kill by Marshall. Once the score was tied at 17, LC took the lead for good, pulling away for the 25-18 win with the 25th point scored off a kill by Marshall.
In the third and final set, LC built a solid advantage of 7-1, and later 14-3, following an ace by Ernst.
Throughout the match, Makayla Creed continued to gain assists for the Lady Mustangs, helping out on many of the points scored by the Lady Mustangs to build what turned into a 20-10 advantage in the third set.
FHS had a late rally where they scored four straight points to make it a 23-15 score, and shortly later that had points from Adams and Kami Magee for a 24-16 deficit. The score eventually got to 24-19 as FHS had a second rally of four more consecutive points, but the set and match ended with a tip over the net by Griffith for a 25-19 score.
LC is scheduled to play again on Friday, Sept. 30 at Peebles in SHAC action. From there, the Lady Mustangs will have a match on Oct. 3 vs. West Union at home, then on Oct. 4 at home vs. Ripley, as those are also conference matches.
Fairfield will play their next match on Friday, Sept 30 when they host Whiteoak in a conference and Highland County rivalry match. Following that match is a trip to Fayetteville on Oct. 4 and then to Madison-Plains in a non-conference match on Oct. 5.
The Lady Mustangs, who are 12-5 overall, won by scores of 25-11, 25-18 and 25-19 to seal the SHAC victory.
Gaining the conference win began with LC winning by 14 points in the opening set, though it was tied very early on at 1-1 and 2-2. From there, though, LC never trailed for the remainder of the set.
Once FHS tied the score at 2-2 off a spike from Hannah Putnam, LC responded with an ace from Brittany Ernst, a kill by Shelby Marshall, then later another point by Marshall for a 6-3 lead. The score stayed close early on as FHS got to within an 8-6 score off a kill from Blake Adams and a play at the net by Ciara Knisley.
The Lady Mustangs came back strong with serves by Hannah Morgan to eventually build a 12-6 lead in the first set. Following a timeout by the Lady Lions, LC eventually worked to double the score of their opponent at 20-10. LC continued to hold the lead and ended the opening set with a kill from Marshall for the 25-11 score.
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Fairfield and Lynchburg-Clay were tied nine times in the second set, though the Lady Mustangs led early on by a 3-0 score off serves from Tylar Griffith, including an ace for the third point.
Knisley scored the first FHS point of the second set, but LC responded with a kill by Marshall and a hit at the net from Abby Blankenship for a 5-1 advantage.
As the second set continued, Brianna Barnes scored a point to make it a 6-4 deficit for the Lady Lions, and eventually FHS rallied to tie the score at 8-8, then at 9-9. FHS took a 10-9 lead off a hit at the net from Knisley, but LC regained the tied score at 10-10 and then took a 11-10 lead.
The score was then tied at 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, including in that span an ace by Lauren Arnold and a kill by Marshall. Once the score was tied at 17, LC took the lead for good, pulling away for the 25-18 win with the 25th point scored off a kill by Marshall.
In the third and final set, LC built a solid advantage of 7-1, and later 14-3, following an ace by Ernst.
Throughout the match, Makayla Creed continued to gain assists for the Lady Mustangs, helping out on many of the points scored by the Lady Mustangs to build what turned into a 20-10 advantage in the third set.
FHS had a late rally where they scored four straight points to make it a 23-15 score, and shortly later that had points from Adams and Kami Magee for a 24-16 deficit. The score eventually got to 24-19 as FHS had a second rally of four more consecutive points, but the set and match ended with a tip over the net by Griffith for a 25-19 score.
LC is scheduled to play again on Friday, Sept. 30 at Peebles in SHAC action. From there, the Lady Mustangs will have a match on Oct. 3 vs. West Union at home, then on Oct. 4 at home vs. Ripley, as those are also conference matches.
Fairfield will play their next match on Friday, Sept 30 when they host Whiteoak in a conference and Highland County rivalry match. Following that match is a trip to Fayetteville on Oct. 4 and then to Madison-Plains in a non-conference match on Oct. 5.