by Bill Turner
Hidden Valley barely averted an opening night setback to the Blacksburg Bruins in the River Ridge volleyball opener for both teams. Hidden Valley was pushed to five games before taking the match 25-17; 24-26; 25-23; 23-25; 15-11.
Sarah Patterson led the Titans with 32 assists and 11 kills. Caroline Boone added 14 kills for Hidden Valley.
“We never gave up,” Hidden Valley head coach Carla Poff said of the close call. “It can help with experience when you go to a fifth game this early in the season.”