Defense, passing help Polk Middle volleyball team top Bearcats

Published 8:00 am Friday, September 28, 2018

Outside Polk County Middle, it rained.

Inside, Polk County Middle reigned.

So went Wednesday afternoon for the Wolverines, who notched a 25-15, 25-20 victory over Hendersonville Middle in Blue Ridge Conference volleyball action.

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The Wolverines (5-4) snapped a three-match losing streak thanks in large part to their floor play. Polk Middle played defense and passed well throughout the match, routinely getting the ball from the back row into the hands of a setter to begin an attack.

That showing was by design, said Polk Middle head coach Matthew Russell.

“We made some changes on the back row to shore up our passing and get into our offense quicker, and those worked,” Russell said.

“We had a hard practice yesterday. We really pushed the girls. They executed today and that’s all you can ask for.”

Polk Middle pulled away early in the first set as two Brianna Powell kills, a Caroline Taylor kill and the serving of Adair Edwards and Ella Waldman pushed the Wolverines to an 11-3 lead.

Hendersonville Middle fought back to within 12-8, but the Wolverines pulled away and closed out the set with a Susanna Ashworth ace.

The second set proved much closer, with Hendersonville inching ahead 13-10 midway through. Polk answered with three straight points, and the two teams began trading points and the lead through several serves.

Edwards and Waldman, though, helped spark a 6-1 Wolverine rally to end the match, with Edwards serving back-to-back aces to seal the win.

The Wolverine fifth quarter team earned a 25-13 victory in what Russell called the team’s best performance this season.

Polk Middle will head into the final three games of its regular season starting Monday with a 4:30 p.m. match at Flat Rock.

– Submitted by PolkSports.com