Blowing Rock upends feisty Mabel, 2-0

By David Rogers. ZIONVILLE, N.C. — Blowing Rock’s middle school volleyball team squandered a big lead in the first set and dug a big hole for themselves in the second, but in both cases belatedly rediscovered their “mojo” to sweep  Mabel, 2-0 (25-15, 30-28). Both teams are competing in the Watauga County Schools’ school-specific volleyball league.

BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE (click on any image for slideshow mode)

Similar to what Blowing Rock did at Bethel last week, the Rockets opened up a 9-1 lead in the first set before the Mustangs clawed back into the fray to close the gap. Blowing Rock got settled, then rallied behind service runs by Jolie Baudoin and Emory Kerns that seemed to catch Mabel off guard. The Rockets won going away, 25-15, to put the earlier collapse behind them.

Mabel did not go away quietly, however, as the Mustangs jumped out to an 11-4 lead and seemed to be exacting a measure of revenge on Blowing Rock. Paisley Ellison was effective with digs to keep the ball in play, while Kailey Greer and Cydney Matheson were adept at getting the ball back across the net, often making life more challenging for the Rockets by hitting to the back row.

But handle the Mustangs, the Rockets did. With several Blowing Rock parents urging their progeny to go on a run, the girls responded with just that, eventually tying the match at 13-13 and from there the two adversaries, one from the northern-most end of the county (Mabel) and the other from the southern-most border (Blowing Rock), battled point for point, with long rallies as both teams seemed to get more skilled as the set went on. Finally, the Rockets put together a side out to gain a 29-28 edge before Mabel mishandled the next serve, giving the visitors a hard-earned, 30-28 overtime victory.

In other Watauga Middle School volleyball action:

• Cove Creek def. Green Valley, 2-1 (25-21, 26-28, 15-19)
• Parkway def. Cove Creek, 2-0 (25-12, 25-11)
• Parkway def. Green Valley, 2-0 (25-8, 25-8)
• Hardin Park def. Bethel, 2-0 (25-4, 25-18)
• Valle Crucis def. Bethel, 2-1 (9-25, 25-15, 15-11)
• Hardin Park def. Valle Crucis, 2-0 (25-14, 25-18)

STANDINGS (after Sept. 26 games)

1. Parkway 10-0
2. Hardin Park 10-1
3. Cove Creek 8-3
4. Blowing Rock 4-6
5. Valle Crucis 3-7
6. Green Valley 3-8
7. Mabel 2-8
8. Bethel 2-9

BONUS PHOTOS of Blowing Rock @ Mabel