Landrum had no problem with Powdersville on Tuesday night, Sept. 11.
The Cardinal volleyball team dominated en route to a 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-5) victory.
After letting the Patriots breathe a little in the second game, the Cardinals weren’t going to let it happen in the third. Aubree Denton, who had three aces, served up ten straight points to help Landrum jump out to a 14-2 lead. Taylor Jenkins had three of her four kills in the run and Carla Bruce had two of her six kills.
“We brought it back (in the third game),” Bruce said. “Our momentum carried us into the third game.”
Meagan Painter served out the game with two aces for a 25-5 third game victory.
Landrum has not had an abundance of power in recent seasons, but this season it abounds. The Cardinals have multiple hitters who can land thundering shots on opposing defense, and those hitters were imposing their will on Tuesday night.
Bruce and Holly Rickett led the way with six kills each. Jenkins and Painter had four kills each.
The Cardinals dispensed with the Patriots early with a speedy 25-10 victory in the first game. The Patriots showed a little fight in the second game. The Cardinals jumped out to a 22-11 lead, but Powdersville wouldn’t go away.
Patriot Kendall Merritt served up three straight points to pull within seven points at 22-15. The Cardinals, however, took control off a big hit by Mallory Shinault and then Denton closed out the final two points on serve. Denton also led the team with 21 assists.
“We have good competitiveness and the aggressiveness we need,” Landrum coach Denise Riske said. “We have a lot more power on the offense now.”
The Cardinals (2-3, 2-0) have really found chemistry lately, Riske said. That chemistry came just in time as the heart of the new I-2A schedule is coming up, including a tough matchup with the defending region champions Chesnee on Thursday at 7 p.m.
“This past week, the girls have started playing together as a team,” Riske said.