By David Rogers. WAXHAW, N.C. — A road match two hours from home at Cutherbertson, a perennially strong contender in the Southern Carolina 4A Conference, hardly fazed the Watauga women’s volleyball team on Aug. 28. The Pioneers manufactured sweeps of both the varsity and junior matchups with the host Cavaliers.
Watauga’s 3-0 varsity performance (25-23, 25-13. 25-22) was highlighted by 13 and 10 kills, respectively, off the arms of Emma Pastusic and Brooklyn Stanbery, on offense. Defensively, Evie Robbins (16 digs). Lainey Gragg (9 digs) and Stanbery (9 digs) led the Pioneer effort, along with stuff blocks featuring Kora Knight (5), Grace Twillery (2), Kasey Gragg (2), and Kate McCullough (1).
The Watauga JVs’ 2-0 sweep (25-18. 25-16) featured kills by Gracyn Blanton (4) and Athena Elliott (2), while Bella Wade’s 8 digs led a balanced defensive effort from the junior Pioneers. Notably, Watauga was strong at the service line in keeping the Pioneers in front, with service aces from Bella Wade (5), Rylee Mitchell (2), and Lilli Combs (2).
FULL WATAUGA VARSITY STATISTICS (over three sets)
- Brooklyn Stanbery: 10 digs, 1 assist, 2 service aces, 9 digs
- Emma Pastusic: 13 kills, 2 digs
- Evie Robbins: 1 kill, 5 assists, 1 service ace, 16 digs
- Grace Twillery: 3 kills, 1 assist, 2 stuff blocks, 1 dig
- Kasey Gragg: 4 kills, 2 stuff blocks, 2 digs
- Kate McCullough: 1 stuff block, 1 dig
- Kora Knight: 2 kills, 5 stuff blocks, 1 dig
- Lainey Gragg: 10 assists, 1 service ace, 9 digs
- Madi Combs: 15 assists, 2 service aces, 7 digs
- Olivia Kop: 3 digs
- Sara Marlowe: 3 kills, 1 stuff block, 2 digs
FULL WATAUGA JUNIOR VARSITY STATISTICS (over two sets)
- Athena Elliott: 2 kills
- Ava Zaragoza: 3 assists, 2 digs
- Bella Wade: 1 assist, 5 service aces, 8 digs
- Gracyn Blanton: 4 kills, 2 digs
- Lilli Combs: 4 assists, 2 service aces, 4 digs
- Lillon Henline: 3 digs
- Rylee Mitchell: 2 service aces, 3 digs
- Sophie Kop: 2 digs
- Julia Rowan: 2 kills
- Sophia Wade: 1 kill
- Graycie Collins: 2 digs
- Anna Koontz: 1 dig
