The Mathews High School varsity volleyball team split a pair of home games this past week, beating Lancaster in three straight sets and falling to York High School.
Mathews defeated the visiting Red Devils last Thursday, winning by scores of 25-13, 25-11 and 25-18. Being aggressive in the front row on offense, eager to attack and ready on defense, Mathews took the win fairly easily.
The Mathews players were also inspired by the loud and supportive student section, transferring the energy and momentum throughout the match. Leading the team in kills was Hannah Rowe with six. Following close behind were Jacqueline Stewart, Kai McCann and Mariah Robinson with five each. Brittany Mitchem and Kayla Carter had three and two kills, respectively. Hailey Abernathy, Madison South, and Keely Crittenden each had one. Stewart and Crittenden led the team with aces with four and three, res;pectively. Rowe and Hudgins each had two, while Sophie Bandurco and Kelly Adams each had one.
Rowe had eight digs, followed by McCann and Bandurco with five. Whitney Eriksen had four digs, Stewart and South had three, and Crittenden and Adams each had one. Bandurco and Crittenden had 13 and 11 assists, respectively, while Eriksen had one.
It was a tougher match for the Blue Devils on Monday, when the talented AA York Falcons came to town. Mathews won the first two games 25-23 and 25-14, but could not stop York’s aggressive hitting in the later games, falling 18-25, 14-25 and 11-15.
McCann and Rowe led the team with seven and four kills, respectively. Stewart and Robinson had three kills. Morgan Driskell, Mitchem and Carter had two each, and Abernathy and Hudgins scored one. McCann aced off four serves, followed by Rowe and Stewart with two each. Hudgins, Bandurco, and Crittenden each aced one. Hudgins led the team with eight digs, while Rowe, McCann and Crittenden had seven each. Bandurco and Abernathy each had five, followed by Stewart with four. Carter had two digs, and Robinson, Mitchem and Eriksen each had one. Crittenden had 12 assists, Bandurco had nine, and Robinson had two.
Jayvees win two
The Mathews jayvee girls, meanwhile, notched a pair of wins over Lancaster and York, winning both in straight sets. Mathews defeated Lancaster, 25-12 and 25-19, Josey Bauby leading the team in kills with three. Stacey Abernathy and Sabrina Barrack each had two, and Olivia Gwynn and Harley Hayden added one apiece. Hayden had a team-leading four aces, followed closely behind with Barrack’s three. Alexis Miles aced off two, and Abernathy, Robin Barrack and Emily Sorey added one each. Gwynn had five aces, Emily Carmine had three, and Abernathy had one.
The jayvee Devils kept up the intensity on Monday, dominating the Falcons by scores of 25-14 and 25-17. Abernathy and Gwynn led the team with three kills each. Sabrina Barrack, Taylor Locey, and Miles contributed two kills each, while Belle Massimino, Sorey and Rachel Stewart each had one. Leading the team with aces was Abernathy and Robin Barrack with three each. Sabrina Barrack and Bauby had two aces, and Amber Jackson and Miles added one each. Abernathy and Carmine led the team with assists, having eight and six, respectively. Sorey had one assist.
Mathews will host Essex on Monday night, and host its first conference match against King William the following night. The jayvee games start at 6 o’clock, with the varsity immediately following.