By KIM NELSON
It was a hard-fought battle, but the Pulaski County Middle School volleyball team failed to make it a season sweep of Blacksburg. The Cougar spikers defeated Blacksburg on their home court earlier in the season, but unforced errors cost them against the Titans this time around. PCMS fell 23-25, 25-23, 9-15 to drop to 9-2 on the season.
“We beat ourselves this time around. Unforced errors…missed serves, missed hits, missed tips cost us,” stated Cougar coach Kim Nelson.
In the first contest, the Cougars, normally an outstanding serving team, missed five serves, had a setting error, and three hitting errors…giving the Titans nine points.
Ryleigh Dean lead the Cougars from behind the service line, going 9-for-10. Ainsley Vaughan finished 6-for-7, Jagger Davis 2-for-2, Bailey Viars 1-for-3, and Jayden Brown 1-for-1.
Gracie Painter and Natalie Kinder each tallied two hits for PCMS, and Brown added one. Vaughan and Dean teamed for five assists and there tips. Vaughan was the top passer.
Things got a little better for the Cougars in game two, but they were up 24-19 and couldn’t put it away. They allowed Blacksburg to close the gap to 24-23 before winning it 25-23.
Inconsistent serving again plagued the Cougars. Dean and Vaughan were both 5-for-5 from the service line in the second contest. Davis and Brown were both 3-for-4, Sandy Santos was 3-for-3, and Viars 1-for-2.
Davis and Kinder each connected on two hits, and Painter had one. Dean and Vaughan combined for five assists and were the top passers for Pulaski.
The Cougars seemed to have the momentum heading in the tie-breaker and lead 9-7 at one point. However, missed serves and unforced errors allowed Blacksburg to tie and go ahead for the win.
Davis had two hits for the Cougars and Dean claimed the assists and was also the top passer for Pulaski.
In the extra games, Pulaski claimed a 25-18 win in the first, but lost the second 19-25.
Madison Akers posted a 5-for-5 performance from the service line, while Isabella Osborne was 7-for-8. Adalyn Arnold went 4-for-4 and Maddie Rinehardt was 3-for-4, and Bethenny King 1-for-1.
Akers and Devae Carter each connected on two hits.
In game two, Akers was 5-for-5 from behind the line, Osborne 3-for-4, Carter, Arnold and Rinehardt were all 2-for-2, King 1-for-2, and Kaya Harriman 1-for-1.
King recorded one hit and Rinehardt got the assist. Carter was the top passer with several saves for the Cougars.
Pulaski will host Fort Chiswell on Monday at 5 p.m.