The Mathews High School varsity volleyball team won two important conference games this past week, including a victory over West Point last Thursday night.
With a loud student section and home court advantage, the Lady Devils beat the Pointers in four sets, 25-14, 28-26, 23-25, and 25-21. Kai McCann and Hannah Rowe led the team with 10 and nine kills, respectively.
Jacqueline Stewart added seven kills, Brittany Mitchem and Mariah Robinson contributed two each, and Anna Hudgins, Kayla Carter, Sophie Bandurco and Keely Crittenden each had one. Leading the team with aces was Crittenden with five, followed by Rowe with three, and Eriksen and Hudgins each with two. Rowe was also strong on defense, registering a team-leading 18 digs, followed by McCann (13), Hailey Abernathy (11) and Whitney Eriksen (10). Crittenden led the team with 14 assists followed by Bandurco’s 13.
On Tuesday, the MHS girls traveled to Middlesex to face their rivals, the Lady Chargers. Even in the away gym, the Devils beat the Chargers in three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-14 and 25-17. Mathews was again aided by a strong cheering section of students and other supporters. McCann led the team with 11 kills, followed by Rowe with eight. Stewart, Carter and Mitchem had two kills each. Hudgins and Crittenden led the team in aces with two each.
Rowe led the team with seven digs, followed by McCann’s four, and Abernathy and Hudgins each with three. Crittenden and Kelly Adams added two digs each. Bandurco had 16 assists. Crittenden added seven and Stewart had three.
Jayvees win two
The jayvee girls also posted wins over West Point and Middlesex, beating the Pointers by two identical set scores of 25-15. With their aggressive offense and hard serves, the Blue Devils easily picked up the win. “Now that we are well over halfway through the season, the girls are showing their potential of how well they play together,” coach Tina Reece said.
Being in the Middlesex away gym Mathews didn’t let that shake them one bit, and they won in three sets of 22-25, 25-14 and 15-4. The Devils began the game a little timid, but pushed hard and came out in the end with the win. Olivia Gwynn and Alexis Miles led the team in kills with four and three, respectively. Stacey Abernathy, Josey Bauby and Amber Jackson each had two. Bauby led the team acing off six serves, followed by Jackson and Miles each with five, Sabrina Barrack with three, and Harley Hayden with two. Gwynn had four assists while Barrack and Emily Carmine each had three.
Both teams will travel to King William today for theirecond matchup of the season.