By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a high school volleyball match for the ages on Aug. 22, with fierce rallies, thundering kill shots and spectacular digs. Watauga battled back not once, but twice to overcome visiting Hickory, 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 18-25, 15-10).
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The Red Tornadoes whirled into Lentz Eggers Gym hellbent on upsetting the Pioneers, the 7-time defending champion of the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference (NWC) in a non-conference tilt. Hickory, once a part of the NWC and annually victimized by the Pioneers, moved to the Western Foothills 4A Conference in 2021-22 as part of the North Carolina High School Athletics Association’s (NCHSAA) periodic realignment. Whether volleyball, football, basketball, baseball or any other of the high school sports teams fielded by the schools, Hickory and Watauga have history and the regional rivalry continues.
With school having started classes just the day before, it was an electric atmosphere in Lentz Eggers Gym with many parents and friends filling both sides of the gym floor and a large Watauga student section, including many members of other Pioneer athletic teams providing enthusiastic vocal support for the home team.
WHEN YOU GET A GOOD DIG AND A GOOD SET, SWING AWAY.
“In many ways, this is a special volleyball match because so many of these young women play with and against each other on various club and travel teams throughout the year,” explained Watauga assistant coach Casey Gragg. “So it is filled with friendly, regional rivalries. These girls know each other.”
For Watauga, it is hard to pinpoint a single individual performance because there were so many up and down the roster who made a difference.
- Senior libero Evie Robbins certainly stood out with a whopping 34 digs to keep the ball in play after a Hickory kill attempt. Robbins added to her stat line with three assists and a kill.
- Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Stanbery had perhaps the most diversified contribution for the night with 19 kills, 18 digs, 2 stuff blocks, and one service ace.
- Sophomore outside hitter Emma Pastusic recorded 21 kills, 2 assists, and three digs.
- Senior designated setter Olivia Kop didn’t just have seven digs, but her powerful serves frequently had the Red Tornadoes on their heels as the Pioneers reeled off two or more consecutive points with Kop’s turns on the service line.
- Freshman setter Lainey Gragg had 9 digs to go along with 20 assists.
- Senior Madi Combs, like Stanbery, made contributions in a variety of ways with 25 assists, 10 digs, and two service aces.
- Senior middle hitter Sara Marlowe also showed versatility with 7 kills, a service ace, a stuff block and a dig.
- Junior middle hitter Grace Tillery added 5 kills, a stuff block, and a dig.
- Sophomore middle hitter Kora Knight made good use of her time on the court with a team-high four stuff blocks.
- Senior middle hitter Kate McCullough, with one official stat in the form of a dig, was often a threatening defensive presence on the frontline as well as helped keep the ball in play with adroit passing.
“We had some ups and downs in what was a good competition, but we did pretty well in coming back, especially after our most recent loss to Cox Mill,” said Pastusic after the match. “Our back row was really good tonight. We still have some things to work out in the front row, just keeping it consistent, but overall I think we did good in coming back from the loss.”
With the match tied 2-2, the Pioneers huddled before the decisive fifth set.
“We just (said) we need to pick stuff up, keep the ball on the court. be smart and find some corners where we could (put the ball)… And then, when you get a good dig and a good set, swing away,” Pastusic added.
In recording her 34 digs, Robbins may well have spent more time flying through the air than on her feet.
“Just throwing myself out there,” said a smiling Robbins. “It is good for the team and fun. Having the student section behind us creates more energy, makes it even more fun. We all become more competitive. Our attitude coming into this game, after a loss, we were ready to not lose and stay scrappy, do whatever it took to win. Tonight, whenever we got down we picked each other up and stayed at it every play, every kill, every set.”
Head coach Kim Pryor was obviously pleased with the result, even if cautious in her assessment.
“It is usually a dogfight with Hickory,” said Pryor. “They always come with great talent and great coaching, so we always expect it to be neck-and-neck and hope that we can pull away for a win in three and make it an easy night, but really we have these (tough) early, non-conference games in order to prepare for our conference schedule. So a five-set match where we come out on top is great preparation.
“It was great to have our students back, with school in session,” Pryor added. “We have such a great following. Our fans are amazing, the parents and middle school teams that come and support us. It is really neat to have this kind of atmosphere in the gym.”
Watauga JVs Battle to OT Win, Too
Before the varsity thriller, Hickory pushed the Watauga junior varsity to the proverbial brink, too, with the Pioneers eventually coming out on top, 2-1 (25-23, 8-25, 19-17). Freshman outside hitter Athena Elliott (8 kills, 4 digs), Gracyn Blanton (12 kills, a block and 2 digs), and Lilli Combs (2 kills, 13 assists, and 7 digs) led the Pioneer attack while Bella Wade, with 15 digs provided many of the defensive highlights to keep the ball in play.
Watauga resumes non-conference play on Aug. 28, in another, expected to be grueling matchup at Cuthbertson (Waxhaw).
BONUS PHOTOS
