In the first game the Flucos jumped to an early lead. They won the first point on Liberty’s serve, and junior Emily Haden then scored on four straight serves to put the Flucos up 5-0. Liberty appeared to be rattled and their coach called a very early time-out.
After the time-out Haden served two more points, the second coming on a kill shot by sophomore Maddy Kline, to make it 7-0, After an exchange of points, the Flucos took over again with sophomore Leslie Walters serving. All-Jefferson District senior Hannah Miller scored on a kill and a dink shot, and Kline also dinked a shot in to make it 13-2 Two more kill shots by Miller made it 15-2. At this point, the outcome of the first game was not in doubt. The Flucos coasted to an easy 25-9 win.
The second game started in a much better fashion for the Liberty Eagles. They jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Flucos came back to tie the game at 5-5. Kline then took over the serve and The Flucos ran off eight straight points for a 13-5 lead. Kline had two service aces in this run and Miller and Haden both had decisive kill shots. The teams then alternated points to a score of 19-11. A Liberty serve over the back line made it 20-11. Kline then took over serve again and recorded three straight points including two service aces. The game ended with a score of 25-14 on a kill shot by Haden.
Varsity volleyball matches are played pursuant to a format that requires a team to win three games. Games are played to 25 points, except that if a fifth and deciding game is required it is played only to 15. In this match, the Flucos won the first two games easily, so there was little reason to believe that Liberty could come back.
In the third game Liberty fought hard, but the Flucos were able to score a on two early service runs to put the Eagles in a hole. This time it was Haden and sophomore Kylee Dixon who were the successful servers. Haden took over serve with the score 1-1 and she scored five straight points to make it 6-1. Miller and Walters had kill shots during this run, Dixon took over serve with the score 7-2 and she ran off six straight points, including one service ace. From this point on the teams exchanged points, until Fluco reserve LeeLee Robbins scored from the back row on an impressive blast just over the net, to make the score 23-11. Even though they were now down by an insurmountable 12 points, the Eagles did not give up and they staged a six point rally to cut the deficit in half for a score of 23-16. However, Kline and Miller ended the Liberty rally with kill shots on successive points to end the game 25-16.
“Coach Harlowe reports that Hannah Miller finished the match with 10 kills and two blocks. Kline and Haden were not far behind. Each had seven kills and one block. Kline also recorded five service aces, while freshman Kate Stutz was a setting machine, with 21 assists.
Before the varsity game, in an exciting finish, the Fluco junior varsity team won its match over Liberty 2-1, winning the deciding third game 15-13.
The Fluco volleyball team hosts non-Jefferson District rival Madison County High School on Tuesday (Sept. 4). The Lady Flucos then play five straight away matches before returning home for a Jefferson District match against Charlottesville High School on Sept. 27.
