By David Rogers. HUDSON, N.C. — A different varsity volleyball team representing Watauga High School took to the court on Sept. 11 at South Caldwell, even if the faces above the jerseys were all the same. With slick offensive and defensive execution, the Pioneers defeated the Spartans, 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-15).
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM (click on any image for Slide Show Mode in full size)
The night before hosting Hickory in the final non-conference match of the 2024 season, Watauga seemed out of sync with one another. As head coach Kim Pryor told reporters later, “We didn’t play Watauga volleyball.”
What a difference 24 hours can make. And the contrast started right from the opening point when the two longtime Northwestern Conference adversaries engaged in the longest rally of the night. Powerful hits, courageous digs, sharply executed passes and assists… they were all there in the opening point — eventually won by the visiting Pioneers.
Watauga’s powerful outside hitter, Emma Pastusic, recorded 16 kills in the three sets to lead the Pioneers’ attack, but her kills were matched by the frontline quartet of Kora Knight (6 kills), Grace Twillery (7), Grace Phelps (5) and Hadleigh Windish (4).
The breadth of scoring came with the support of solid setups by Lainey Gragg, who effectively distributed the kill opportunities for 34 assists.
Adding to the Pioneer effectiveness were four service aces, including two by Pastusic and one each by Kaitlyn Darner and Gragg.
Defensively, Grace Twillery led the team with six stuff blocks, with Kora Knight adding two and Pastusic another.
Also defensively, eight Pioneers were credited with digs to keep the ball in play, led by Darner (11 digs), Caroline Childers (10), Pastusic (8), Lilli Combs (7), Gragg (6), Phelps (3), Twillery (2) and Windish (1).
Pastusic has returned from an early season elbow injury, but is now back in mid-season form.
“We came down here really confident that we were going to play well,” said Pastusic. “Our rotations were really good and everybody played great tonight. Our passing was outstanding and that really helped us win the game.”
The setter, Gragg, emphasized the Pioneers’ playing as a team.
“We grew together tonight and played as a team and when you play as a team you can do just about anything you want,” said Gragg afterwards. “We played together and wanted to win.”
Freshman libero Caroline Childers has emerged as an anchor on the Pioneer back row.
“We dived (for balls) well tonight,” said Childers. “And we communicated really well. We were particularly good on serve receive and defense, blocking and digging.”
Pressed for how she felt as a freshman playing on varsity, Childers said, “It is such an honor and a great experience for me. I am so happy to be able to play with such amazing teammates. They are all so good and make up such a good team. We all get along really well. We love each other.”
Childers said she has been playing volleyball since she was in second grade.
“Tonight we played with confidence,” said head coach Kim Pryor. “We played with poise. We got back to Watauga volleyball, how we play. I am proud of how the girls responded after a couple of losses.
Casting the pre-conference record aside, Pryor said, “We were 0-0 before this match and now we are 1-0 in conference. That is all that matters. I have been telling the team that we are so well prepared for what is to come (in the conference schedule) by those tough non-conference games. I am excited about what is to come.”
After winning the first point, Watauga won the next three in the opening set to go up 4-0, then gave up a couple of points to South Caldwell, making the score 4-2. Then, with Childers serving, the Pioneers went on an 8-0 run to gain separation. Asked about Childers’ success in serving, Pryor was candid.
“As a team, we got back to aggressive serving. You don’t play volleyball to be careful. You play it to be aggressive. You make aggressive mistakes and those mistakes are OK. We got back to our aggressive game and our settled game, team volleyball,” said Pryor.
Asked what constitutes ‘aggressive serving,’ Pryor said, “It is serving to different spots on the floor. It is serving with some velocity on the ball. It is making sure we aren’t serving straight to people and getting the ball to places where it is hard for our opponents to pass.”
Next up for the Pioneers is a second road contest with yet another Northwestern Conference 4A rival, at Alexander Central in Taylorsville. First serve is slated for approximately 6 p.m., after the junior varsity game. The Cougars finished their preseason slate, 4-5. They lost their conference opener at Ashe County, 3-0.
SELECTED WATAUGA STAT LEADERS
-
- Emma Pastusic: 16 kills, 1 stuff block, 2 service aces, 8 digs
- Caroline Childers: 10 digs, 2 assists
- Lainey Gragg: 34 assists, 1 service ace, 6 digs
- Grace Phelps: 5 kills, 3 digs
- Grace Twillery: 7 kills, 6 stuff blocks, 2 digs
- Kaitlyn Darner: 11 digs, 1 service ace
- Kora Knight: 6 kills, 2 stuff blocks
- Hadleigh Windish: 4 kills, 1 dig
- Lilli Combs: 7 digs
BONUS PHOTOS
