To say the volleyball teams of Roanoke Cathoilc and Rockbridge County were both hot Thursday evening in the Celtic gym may be the understatement of the young season.
Sweltering conditions in the Catholic gym made playing conditions akin to a sauna at an athletic club. It was an endurance test to the finish line.
With both squads battling to the end, Roanoke Catholic outlasted Rockbridge 3-2 in a 214-point marathon, 25-21; 23-25; 25-23; 20-25; 15-12.
It was the Celtics first win of the season, evening their record at 1-1 after an opening loss to Salem. Roanoke Catholic is the 3-time defending VISAA Division III state champions.
Rockbridge County fell to 0-2 after dropping their second match in three days in the Roanoke Valley following Tuesday night’s loss to Patrick Henry.
Catholic is still looking to find its identity, bringing a total of six freshmen and sophomores to this year’s roster. Head coach Aaron King may have already found a standout performer from that group, as soph Keely Skelton keyed the opening-game win Thursday.
Rockbridge jumped out to a quick 10-5 lead, before Skelton’s serve ignited a 13-3 Celtic run. Down 18-13, Rockbridge rallied to tie things at 21, before Skelton closed the deal from the service line with Catholic going on a 4-0 finish.
Catholic led 18-13 in the second game when Rockbridge rallied in the heat for 12-5 run and 25-23 win to knot things at one game each.
Rallies in each led the Celtics to a 25-23 win in game three and Rockbridge to a 25-20 victory in game four, making a fifth game, first to 15 point tiebreaker, necessary to settle the stalemate. The Celtics prevailed 15-12.
The 5’9″ Skelton finished with 9 aces and 5 kills. Junior Ashley Deer added 6 aces and set the table with 38 assists, while senior Allison George pounded 18 kills past the Wildcat defense and fellow-senior Alexandra Arnold slammed down 15 kills for the Celtics.
Morgan Chittum and Mikhala Stafford led the Wildcat power attack with 15 and 9 kills, respectfully.
– Bill Turner
