September 21, 2012
By JERRY HOLSWORTH
Special to The Winchester Star

(Photo by Ginger Perry/The Winchester Star)
WINCHESTER — After defeating Kettle Run in four sets in their earlier meeting, James Wood’s volleyball team was looking to improve on that performance when it hosted the Cougars Thursday, and that’s exactly what it did, dominating Kettle Run in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-18) sweep.

“We were a lot more excited [Thursday night] than the last time we played them,” Colonel setter Emilee Payne said. “It took us four sets to take them the last time we played them, and we came out [Thursday night] determined to finish them off in three.”

Payne’s play at setter was one of the keys to the Colonel romp. The Wood senior distributed the ball to seven different Colonels to end the match with 25 assists, including the match-winner to teammate Erica Hepner.

“I really liked everything I saw out there,” Colonel coach Jill Couturiaux said. “I thought the girls connected on almost everything they tried. It was some of the best volleyball we’ve played all year.”
Wood took the lead early in the first set, and, despite a determined performance by the Cougars, only trailed once during the match. Although Colonel sophomore Katie Houser led Wood during the first the set with six kills, she was hardly the only Colonel hitter who mashed the ball past the Kettle Run defense.

Tarah Wampler had four kills in the opening set. Hepner wasn’t far behind with three, and Abigayle Sytsma scored on two kills and a block in the Colonel win.

“All of our attackers are good,” Payne said. “When Katie (Houser) and Erica (Hepner) are up front that’s really our strongest front line. But I think all of them are strong. We work a lot on reading their defense so that it’s easier for the hitter to hit it where they’re not.”

Offense was the only thing Wood excelled at during the match. The Cougars were only able to squeeze one ace past the Colonel defense during the match.

“We pride ourselves on how we play defense,” Hepner said. “We’re always out there working hard on defense. They’re a very good team, and a win like this really helps us get ready for district competition. It’s important that we have to work hard in these types of games and go out there and play our best. I thought we did that [Thursday night].”

The second set was a repeat of the first one, with Payne setting up her front line for devastating kills by Houser, Hepner, and Wampler. The Cougars fought hard against the Colonel trio, keeping the score close and tying the set 5-5 early.

But with Wood leading 8-7, the Colonels put together an 11-2 run that left Kettle Run reeling 19-9. Hepner got the set-winner with an ace.

With their backs against the wall, the Cougars began the third set with a kill by Melvina Brown, giving Kettle Run a 1-0 lead. It proved to be the only time during the match that the Cougars had the lead.

Wood answered with a 6-2 run and cruised home from there. Houser and Hepner led the Colonels in the final set, scoring three kills each.

Houser led all Colonels in kills with 16 for the night. The Wood sophomore also scored on two aces. Hepner had eight kills and two blocks, and Wampler finished the night with seven kills.

The Cougars were paced by Alyson Kroll who scored on seven kills. Teammates Brown and Rebecca McGilvery had seven kills each for Kettle Run.

“This was a real confidence builder for us,” Couturiaux said. “We’ve got a very tough match Tuesday with Sherando to open district play and this is exactly how I wanted us to play heading into that match.”