Wildcats Sweep Riverheads

GREENVILLE – Rockbridge held off Riverheads in a close first set Thursday night and then the Wildcats cruised to take a straight set Shenandoah District win. The Cats won 25-23, 25-12, 25-11.

The Gladiators jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the opening set before the Cats rallied to tie the score, 11-11. The score was tied six more times and the lead changed sides three times.

The Gladiators took their final lead at 20-19. Chesney Dunlap tied the score with a kill and a hitting error by the Cats gave Riverheads a one-point lead. Two kills by Jada Hamilton gave the Cats a 23-21 lead. A kill by Francesca Beidle moved Rockbridge to set point, 24-23 before another kill closed out the first set for the Cats, 25-23.

Rockbridge took a quick 9-2 lead in the second set before the Gladiators batted back to tie the score, 10-10.

Kills by Abi Bennington and Dunlap and a service ace by Bennington pulled Riverheads to within 9-6. After a side-out, Riverheads scored the next four points, two on aces by Meleah Shirley to pull even at 10-10.

The rest of the night belonged to the Cats. They outscored Riverheads 15-2 to close out the second set 25-12 and then carried the momentum into the third set for a 25-11 margin.