By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Sophomore Lilli Combs and freshman Ava Zaragoza combined for 28 assists — 14 each — on Aug. 15, helping lead the Watauga Pioneers junior varsity to a decisive 2-0 sweep of Southwestern Randolph on Aug. 15, 25-10, 25-16.
Taking advantage of the setters’ deft work were the Pioneer JVs’ big hitters on the day, Gracyn Blanton (13 kills) and Athena Elliott (8 kills).
Sophomore Lilli Combs recorded three service aces over the course of the two sets, her work behind the service line helping the Pioneers jump out to a decisive lead with consecutive point runs in the first set.
Watauga head coach Casey Gragg told High Country Sports after the match that her staff was able to get all eligible JV players onto the court during the contest and that was reflected in digs, where four Pioneers tied for team-high honors, with four, including sophomore Bella Wade, freshman Zaragoza, sophomore Combs, and sophomore Lillon Henline.
The JV team’s performance vs. Southwestern Randolph was decidedly more polished than what they were able to do four days earlier at the Catawba College scrimmage tournament.
“At Catawba,” explained Gragg, “we specifically used three or four different rotations. I wanted to see how the girls paired with each other as setters and hitters. We wanted to see which combinations of passers, setters and hitters were likely to be more successful when on the floor at the same time.”
The scrimmage experimentation paid off because, based on their performance against the Cougars in the official season opener, Watauga’s JV team clicked — to the point they might well have defeated many of the varsity teams in the Northwestern Conference.
“These girls already have the kind of ‘gel’ that we might ordinarily see halfway through the season,” said Gragg. “I am really proud of how they have worked together and gained the kind of court confidence that should allow us to compete very well in our matches this year.”
Outside hitter Gracyn Blanton may well have surprised even herself with her jumping ability, allowing her to drive down on the ball while going over the net.
“I don’t even know where that came from,” said a smiling Blanton of the leaping ability demonstrated in this match.
“She works hard,” interjected her coach, Gragg. “All the girls work so hard. They are very disciplined in their approach to playing volleyball and they are very coachable, just like Gracyn, to learn the skills and work at them repetitively over and over again to the point where they are exhausted, but they don’t give up.”
Having played volleyball since the 4th grade, Blanton has learned to love the game.
“Especially here, there are so many people supporting what we do,” said Blanton of the game that gets her competitive juices flowing. “It is the environment here, but it is such as fascinating, fast-paced game. You are into every point and every play.”
Even for her young age, as a freshman, Blanton already wonders what the future holds. Certainly she wants to play varsity volleyball at Watauga, but that is as far as the “next level” she wants to think about at this point.
“Volleyball is so competitive in college and I don’t know if I will be there (skill-wise). Maybe. But we will see,” she said.
KEY INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
- Gracyn Blanton: 13 kills, 2 digs
- Ava Zaragoza: 14 assists, 4 digs
- Lilli Combs: 14 assists, 3 service aces, 4 digs
- Athena Elliott: 8 kills
- Rylee Mitchell: 5 kills, 1 block, 1 service ace
- Bella Wade: 1 assist, 4 digs
- Lillon Henline: 4 digs
- Sofie Wade: 4 kills
- Sophie Kop: 1 service ace, 3 digs
BONUS PHOTOS
