Varsity Volleyball Drops Match to Strasburg
The cheering fans were as loud as they could be and colorfully made up in blue and gold. The Panther mascot was leading cheers. Still Rapp’s varsity could not overcome Strasburg at home in the final game of the regular season.
Finishing second in the regular season, Rapp will next host a semi-final game in the Bull Run District Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 1, and, if all goes as expected, face Strasburg again in Strasburg on Saturday, Nov. 3 for the tournament championship.
The Rams jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first game, and while Rapp’s leading hitters Kim Hutcheson and Elena Kritter had some great kills, Strasburg won that first game 14-25.
In the second game Rapp had the early 2-0 lead, but couldn’t hold on to it, and Strasburg got out to an 11-6 lead. Rapp scrambled and managed a come back, but couldn’t take the lead and lost the second game 25-23. That put the Panthers in a nearly impossible situation.
The Panthers weren’t willing to give up, however, and again got the early lead in the third game. Strasburg kept hanging around, however, and the score was tied at 7-7, 12-12, 21-21, 22-22, 24-24 and 25-25 before Rapp got the final points on Elena Kritter kills and won 27-25.
In the fourth game, Rapp tied the score at 1-1, 2-2, and 3-3 before Strasburg took the lead and held on to it, winning the game 25-14 and the match three games to one.
“We played hard,” Coach Scott Wilde said. “We made some mistakes, but they tried. Strasburg has a big, strong, powerful team.”
Kim Hutcheson had 13 kills and Elena Kritter had 20. Elvira Yanez had 25 assists, and “Noel Johns had a beautiful dig that turned around the game we won.” Volunteer Coach Gene Kirtter said.
Earlier the JV lost in two games to Strasburg’s JV 25-12 and 25-13.
-- Sharon Kilpatrick
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