James Wood Clobbers Central In Volleyball Opener

Posted: August 24, 2016
By JERRY HOLDSWORTH
Special to the Star

WINCHESTER — James Woods’ girl’s volleyball team kicked off its 2016 season with a bang Tuesday, demolishing Central 25-8, 25-8, 25-4.

The Colonels overwhelmed the Falcons in every phase of the game, scoring at will and taking advantage of multiple Central errors. In one area, however, they were overwhelming.

Wood amassed 27 points on aces and got them from nine different players. The Colonels also handled service as Central was scoreless from the service line and managed just three kills for the entire match. The Colonels’ back line not only dug the ball well, but delivered near perfect passes to their setters to set up several kills by hitters Ashanti Day, Taylor Heishman and Morgan Biggs.

The result was three quick sets where Wood led after every exchange except one in the opening set.

After the Falcons took the lead 3-2 with a kill by Bree Pifer, Wood used for a 3-0 run to jump ahead 5-3 and never looked back.

With the Colonels leading 14-8, Day stepped to the service line and led Wood on a 11-0 run to finish off the Falcons in the first set.

"It was pretty exciting out there," Day said. "We got a lot of support from our fans. I got a lot of support from my teammates on that run."

Day had three of her four aces in the set during the run, but also got help from kills by Leilani Burch, Biggs and Heishman, who scored the set winner and had four kills and a block during the set.

"We try to serve aggressively so if we have a few that sail long and into the net we don’t worry about that," Burch said. "This was a great first game and a good way to begin the season."

Wood held the momentum throughout the rest of the march.

In the second set, the Colonels led 75 when setter Megan Hillyard stepped to the service line with a 7-5 lead. The senior nearly matched Day’s performance in the first set, leading Wood on a 9-0 run that included four aces. Biggs and Gillian Kleiderlein chipped in three kills during the run.

"We focus on serving well and passing well," Megan Hillyard said. "We feel that if you can do those two things well we’re going to win."

With the score 17-5, Hillyard was replaced at the service line by reserve setter Katherine Lever. If Central thought they had caught a break with Hillyard on the bench, Lever quickly demonstrated that she was equal to the task by pushing the margin to 20-5 while contributing an ace.

As Wood expanded on its lead through the final exchanges in the second set, the Colonels also demonstrated that they have a lot of quality depth among their younger players.

Sophomore Taylor Robinson smashed home the last two points of the set with an ace and a kill.

With the senior starters on the bench in the final set, Kara Norman had three aces in a 9-0 run to begin. With Wood leading 19-4, Hillyard returned and cranked four more aces to lead Wood on a 6-0 to end the match.

Heishman led Wood with six kills and two blocks. Biggs added five kills.

"Our depth is going to be a key for us all year long," Wood coach Paul Hillyard said. "I was very pleased with our passing tonight. We work really hard on controlling the ball, and that was pleasing see us control the ball that well tonight."

"I think the key to Wood’s success was their serves," Falcon coach Alyssa Bane said. "We just couldn’t return their serves. We were very nervous coming here for our first game and playing a team like James Wood."